The Southern Governors Forum has disclosed plan to set up Southern States Development Agenda , that will outline a holistic plan to foster trade and investment, sustainable growth and development, economic prosperity, social harmony, and food security for the region.
While it resolved to be more aggressive and intentional about food security, the forum enjoined all states to intensify their agricultural resurgence/revolution initiatives based on the cash and food crops best suited for each region to achieve food sufficiency, self-reliance, and employment generation.
The Southern Governors applauded the President Tinubu for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, which cuts across eight states. “Being the economic and industrial hub of the country, the Forum highlighted the need to address the inadequate power supply in the region.
“The Forum recognized the necessity of total PMS deregulation and pledged support to the Energy Transition program of Mr. President. The Forum urged member states to implement a quick transition to Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles as a condition precedent to full deregulation to cushion effects on citizens”.
“The Forum discussed the minimum wage issues demanded by labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living and that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage. This led to the forum’s discussion on fiscal federalism and devolution of powers”.