Lalong: We’ll implement what we learnt at presidential retreat in our states

Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau, says governors will ensure the implementation of the outcome of the presidential policy retreat in their various states.

Lalong, who addressed journalists after the retreat which held in Aso Rock, said security remains his priority.

He said issues addressed at the retreat include insecurity and education in the country.

Lalong said the northern governors will soon convene a summit on insecurity and education following the outcome of the presidential policy retreat.

“I had mentioned here that when I was elected as the chairman of northern governors forum that my priority is security. So we discussed how to tackle insecurity as presented by the inspector-general of police, with a lot of contributions,” he said.

“The second aspect is education, we mentioned to the president the Almajiri system. So these were the things that all of us have taken in and very soon, I will convene the northern summit for us to collectively discuss because at the northern governors forum I have already set up a committee chaired by the governor of Katsina to look generally at insecurity in the north.

“We also set up another committee to look at education in the north and then the prospect of an economic summit for north. So these are three things which we are working on. I gained a lot that is why many of us were here since morning till night discussing with Mr President and I can see the determination because it’s a way of moving forward.

“These were done by the party and Mr President to prepare the president for the inauguration of his federal executive council members. Many of us are also going to copy the same and take it home as many of us have not even set up our cabinets. So we are also going to do the same and transfer it to our various states.

“At federal executive council, at national economic council we will continue to push for the implementation. It is not our duty but we are also heads of our state, therefore, once Mr. President pulls the trigger, we will support him and we will also replicate it in our various states.”

Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara state, said his administration is set to implement Ruga settlement in the state.

He disclosed this while addressing state house correspondents at the end of the retreat.

He said the establishment of Ruga in the state will address the crisis between farmers and herdsmen.

“In Zamfara we will adopt Ruga in our strategy to address the herders/farmers crisis; it is a developmental project on ranch and we are ready for it,” he said.