COVID-19: Governors want Federal govt to relax lockdown

- Nigerian governors have asked the federal government to relax the lockdown imposed on some states

- The governors say they want internal free movement in all the states, but with restrictions on large gatherings

- The governors also want to be included in the next presidential pronouncement on COVID-19 so as to have a uniform policy

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has asked the federal government to scale down to partial mode with relaxed restriction in the ongoing lockdown.

In a letter dated Friday, April 24 and addressed to Mr Boss Mustapha, the NGF requested for, subject to the president’s approval, internal free movement in all the states, but with restrictions on large gatherings.

Mustapha is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and also the chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.

The other things the governors want to be incorporated into President Buhari’s impending pronouncement on the lockdown are: “Inter-state lockdown, excluding movement of essential supplies- food, beverages, medical and pharmace*utical, petroleum supplies and agricultural products; internal free movement but with restrictions on large gatherings and assemblies; overnight curfews; lockdown of flights; and compulsory use of face masks/coverings in the public.”

The NGF’s letter, signed by its chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, said its position was a follow up to a teleconference meeting with Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, April 20.

The NGF added: “Recall at the meeting it was agreed that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) articulates the issues that it would want to be included in the next presidential pronouncement on COVID-19 so as to have a uniform and coordinated policy on COVID-19 at both the national and sub-national levels.”

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Meanwhile, a consortium of anti-corruption organisations has called on federal and state governments to immediately publish the names of all beneficiaries of government palliatives to ensure transparency in the exercise.

The organisations under the Upright For Nigeria, Stand Against Corruption campaign also demanded inclusion of citizens and members of the civil society in the federal and state government task force committees on the implementation of the palliative programmes.

The consortium includes ActionAid Nigeria, Centre for Democracy and Development and the Centre for Communication and Social Impact.

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