Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) chairman, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq has disclosed that governors were worried about widespread riot after the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023.

“All states have deployed security agencies and have emergency meetings of the security council,” he said.

But there wasn’t a single protest, he said, contrary to expectations.

It was learnt that the Kwara State governor disclosed this during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and other state governors on Friday at Tinubu’s residence in Lagos.

The governors first heard about the subsidy removal via calls from the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the Department of State Services while they were on a trip to China, with both officials saying there was no going back, he said.

“We got into a panic. “I sent a message to my colleagues at the NGF and nobody wanted to hear that,” he said.

Those present in China including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Kaduna State Governor met and agreed to seek a meeting with Tinubu to argue against the policy, he said.

We met and asked, How could this be done? It could not be done. There were phone calls here and there to Nigeria. So we decided to book for an appointment to see Mr President and let him know that this can’t work,” Abdulrazaq said.

Then the dinner that followed didn’t go as planned.

“Mr President invited us to dinner and we went. We sat down, listened to his vision for Nigeria and couldn’t even bring up the topic at the end of day.

“We didn’t know if he had got security reports on why we were coming for dinner, but we couldn’t raise the issue,” he said.

Abdulrazaq said states had as little as ₦100m to ₦200m left with after paying salaries from their FAAC allocations, which was barely enough to build one kilometre of road, to go into bonds and loans to fund infrastructure.

“Today, states don’t need to borrow money or issue bonds. In fact we are lowering our debt burden. “Delta State has cleared its debt. We have reduced our debt by 40 per cent,” he said.

He also cited the minimum wage increase as another benefit and urged Tinubu to collaborate with the governors to increase it to ₦100,000.

“Minimum wage has increased and most states are now paying close to ₦100,000. “I want to appeal to Your Excellency to have a discussion on the minimum wage to a minimum of ₦100,000,” Abdulrazaq said.

The post ‘We Could Not Even Raise The Issue’ – Gov AbdulRazaq Recounts Tense Dinner With Tinubu After Subsidy Removal appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider increasing the national minimum wage of Nigeria to N100,000.

AbdulRazaq made the appeal in Lagos on Friday when members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, visited President Tinubu at his Lagos residence on the occasion of Sallah.

The NGF chairman, while speaking during the visit, said that many states were already paying close to N100,000 as wages and urged the Federal Government to begin talks on a new minimum wage benchmark.

On the issue of minimum wage, most of the states are paying close to 100,000 naira today and I urge your excellency, let’s all have a discussion of moving the minimum wage to 100,000.

“We know we will get the normal support from you as we move forward to implement that,” he said.

The post Gov AbdulRazaq Appeals To Tinubu To Raise Minimum Wage To N100,000 appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Kwara North Traditional Rulers Council has commended President Bola Tinubu, Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national and state levels for founding Kwara North worthy to produce the next governor of the state.

In the same vein, Kwara North community leaders and elders have also expressed their appreciation to Tinubu, AbdulRazaq and other stakeholders for making their son, Engr Yakubu Danladi-Salihu emerge as the APC gubernatorial candidate in the Friday primary election.

The Etsu Patigi, Alh Ibrahim Umar Bologi II, who made the statement on behalf of the traditional council, described the development as historic milestone and a clear demonstration of fairness, inclusiveness, equity and political balance in the state.

The respected monarch said the decision to back the aspiration of Kwara North was a reflection of the commitment of the leadership to justice, unity and peaceful co-existence among the different regions of the state.

He said the gesture has rekindled hope, strengthened political harmony and further deepened the confidence of the people of Kwara North in the leadership of the APC at both the state and national levels.

He commended AbdulRazaq for his statesmanship, political maturity and doggedness to fairness and equity, adding that he is a leader whose administration continues to promote unity, peace and sustainable development in the state.

He also lauded President Tinubu and the leadership of the APC for listening to the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Kwara North, noting that the actualisation of the long agitation for power shift to the district would remain a memorable and commendable feat in the political history of the state.

He reaffirmed the monarchs’ backing for peace, unity and democratic growth, just as he prayed God to give Tinubu, AbdulRazaq and all APC leaders wisdom and divine guidance in the performance of their duties to the nation and the people of Kwara State.

We are grateful to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, APC National leadership, State Executives, party leaders and stakeholders for believing in the people of Kwara North and making our long awaited aspiration a reality. “We pray Almighty Allah continues to guide, protect and bless them with wisdom and success as they continue to serve the people,” the monarch’s statement said.

In their remarks and a statement signed by the former minister of sports, Hon. Isa Bio Ibrahim, the Kwara North elders and leaders commended Tinubu and AbdulRazaq for making their people have a sense of belonging through the emergence of Danladi-Salihu as the APC gubernatorial candidate.

“We the good people of Kwara North are most grateful to Governor AbdulRazaq and President Tinubu for honouring and accepting one of us, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi from Baruten LGA of Kwara North to succeed Your Excellency.

We thank you for your sincere leadership and the overwhelming support you gave to all aspirants which ultimately resulted in the victory of Kwara North in the APC primaries. Glory to Allah (SWT) and your humble self for the confidence and trust sir . We shall never let you down. For this trust we shall ever be grateful and true to you.” You have proved yourself a man of honour, equity, fairness and justice and your name shall go down in gold in the history of Kwara State.

We salute Your Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and President Bola Tinubu on behalf of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi, the entire Kwara North and indeed the APC family of Kwara State. “In Kwara State, we have been fatherless but now you are our father. Kwara North will reciprocate this magnanimity by voting massively for APC in 2027,”, Ibrahim said.

The post APC Primary: Monarchs Commend Tinubu, AbdulRazaq on Securing Party Tickets appeared first on TheNigerian.