By: Precious Godwin
ABUJA — The 36 state governors, under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s directive mandating the direct remittance of oil and gas revenue entitlements into the Federation Account.
In a statement issued Monday by the Forum’s Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, the NGF described the reform as a critical step toward strengthening fiscal transparency, predictability and constitutional compliance across all tiers of government.
The governors specifically backed Executive Order 9, signed by the President on February 13, 2026, which aligns oil and gas revenue flows with constitutional provisions and clarifies regulatory responsibilities within the petroleum sector.
Under the order, government entitlements from production-sharing and related contracts — including royalty oil, tax oil, profit oil and profit gas — are to be paid directly into the Federation Account. The NGF said the move would enhance clarity in revenue allocation and ensure more predictable funding for federal, state and local governments.
NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the reform would reinforce fiscal stability nationwide. “The Federation Account is the backbone of Nigeria’s intergovernmental fiscal system. Structural clarity in the remittance of nationally owned resources strengthens fiscal stability across all tiers of government. Predictability improves planning. Planning improves delivery,” he said.
The Forum stressed that transparent and predictable revenue streams are vital for states to fund essential services such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and security for Nigeria’s population of over 220 million.
It added that governors remain committed to working with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure the reforms translate into measurable and sustainable development Royal News)
