The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has called for urgent measures to restore confidence in the nation’s fiscal management systems.

The NGF made the call in a communiqué issued after its first meeting of 2026 on Thursday in Abuja, signed by its chairman, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara.

The governors also called for the timely resolution of outstanding fiscal matters to boost development at the subnational level.

Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu, reading the communiqué, said the governors deliberated on issues affecting the country, including economic reforms, education, security, and food security, among others.

The forum said that the governors received a comprehensive briefing from the new finance and economy minister, Taiwo Oyedele, on current fiscal developments in the country.

According to the NGF, the briefing covers trends in Federation Account Allocation Committee revenues, ongoing tax reforms, and the broader effort to strengthen revenue mobilisation across all tiers of government.

”Governors underscored the imperative of restoring confidence in fiscal management systems and called for the timely resolution of outstanding fiscal matter which remain critical to subnational planning and budgetary stability.

”The forum also discussed reforms to broaden the taxpayer base, improve compliance, and ease the burden on basic consumption. Governors reaffirmed their commitment to working in close partnership with the minister to advance shared fiscal objectives in the interest of all Nigerians,’’ the statement said.

The governors also said that, as part of proactive measures to enhance security in the country, the forum secretariat had developed a ‘State Police Framework’ in anticipation of proposed constitutional amendments.

According to the NGF, the framework outlines key readiness requirements, including governance structures, financing models, human capital standards, digital systems, and oversight mechanisms.

The governors also said they received a presentation from education minister Tunji Alausa on the priorities shaping the federal government’s education agenda.

They listed key areas discussed, including the proposed transition to a 12-year continuous basic education framework and the progress recorded on the Digital National Education Management Information System platform.

They restated the urgent need to expand infrastructure for junior and senior secondary schools to keep pace with growing enrolment.

They reaffirmed their collective commitment to working in close partnership with the federal government to expand access to quality education and ensure that resources reach the communities that needed them most.

The NGF added that it approved the establishment of the NGF Academy and Leadership Centre as a new directorate within the secretariat, designed as a flagship platform for subnational leadership development.

The governors welcomed progress towards its operationalisation and reaffirmed their support for the initiative as a strategic resource for strengthening governance across the federation.

Similarly, the acting president of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Iliyasu Zakari, speaking to journalists after the delegation’s meeting with the NGF, described the meeting as a successful and fulfilling first step toward stabilising ALGON for grassroots development.

Mr Zakari said the meeting was imperative following the recent court judgment validating the ALGON board of trustees, the board that subsequently appointed and inaugurated him as acting president of the association.

(NAN)