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COVID-19: Don’t give money to Northern govs, CNG tells Buhari

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The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari not to give any money to Northern state governors in the name of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group in a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman in Kaduna, said the governors would abuse such funds if released to them.

He said: “We frown on the focus of the northern governors on demanding funds from the federation account under the pretext of fighting the spread of the pandemic.”

It would be recalled that the governors after a teleconference to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the region on Monday, bemoaned the absence of a testing centres and resolving to liaise with the Federal Government.

The CNG however accused the governors of paying lip service to the fight against coronavirus.

Read also: COVID-19: Buhari charges task force on contact tracing, testing

The statement read: “CNG frowns on the incoherent response to the COVID-19 by most northern state governments that only pay lip services to the issue of provision of equipped isolation and treatment centres and palliatives to communities affected by their lockdown orders.

“We frown on the focus of the northern governors on demanding funds from the federation account in the pretext of fighting the spread of the pandemic.

“In this regard, CNG recalls the scandalous controversies that trailed the squander of bailout grants for the settlement of salary arrears by most state governments.

“We urge the Federal Government not to succumb to the states’ demand for funds for fear that they would not be put to judicious use as with the salary bailouts.

“And if the Federal Government is disposed to granting the funds to the states, CNG insists on the setting up of a mechanism in the form of committee comprising of credible elders and community leaders in each state to monitor the process of the disbursements and ensuring the judicious use of the funds for the purpose they are meant.”

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