The Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), has called on the federal government to formally handover the New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), Kaduna, in keeping with its public pronouncement on the matter.
The forum also accepted the report of the technical committee on the proposed Northern Peace Conference while an emergency meeting is to be held by October.
At its meeting at the weekend, the governors also approved the appointment of a new Group Managing Director (GMD), for the New Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC). He is Alhaji Ali Alkali with Alhaji Sheriff as executive director.
The communiqué read by chairman of the meeting and Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, said the forum was committed to resuscitate the New Nigerian Newspapers.
On the Bank of the North the forum emphasised the need for the owner-states to promise and repay the bank’s debt, the take over of the Central Bank loan and the urgent need to privatise the bank.
“After exhaustive deliberations, it was decided that the management of the bank should meet with the secretaries to the states governments and the states commi-ssioners of finance to look into the issues raised,” the communiqué added.
On the Kaduna Textiles Limited (KTL), the forum was satisfied with progress in repayment of its loan from First Bank, adding that so far, N147 million has been paid. The forum called on states who are yet to pay to do so as soon as possible.
The forum also rolled out a programme to boost cotton production in the North as part of on-going efforts to diversify the economy.
It therefore resolved to put up a vibrant publicity, resuscitate gazetted markets and resumption of cotton inspection and grading in collaboration with Federal Produce Inspection Services (FPIS) as well as enforce close season regulations.
The forum also resolved to curb inflow of cotton seed from abroad, retaining state produce inspectors, adherence to conventional farming practice through extension services, the importation of jute bags and enforcement of quality control regulations and packaging.
It is also to encourage collaboration with research institutes and resolved to maintain export expansion grant on ginned cotton list at 40 percent.
On cassava production, the forum decided to encourage its massive production through provision of incentives.
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