The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has unveiled a new Leadership Academy while expressing strong support for ongoing fiscal, education, and security reforms being implemented by the Federal Government.
The announcement followed the Forum’s first 2026 meeting held in Abuja, which extended from Wednesday into early Thursday, where governors received policy briefings on taxation, revenue performance, and education sector reforms.
In a communiqué signed by NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governors reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Federal Government to improve governance outcomes and service delivery across states.
The Forum received presentations from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, focusing on tax reforms, revenue mobilisation, and plans to expand access to basic and secondary education infrastructure.
On fiscal matters, the governors reviewed trends in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) revenues, ongoing tax reforms, and broader efforts to strengthen revenue generation across all tiers of government. They stressed the need to restore confidence in fiscal management systems and resolve outstanding issues affecting state budgeting and planning.
The Forum also supported efforts to broaden the tax base, improve compliance, and reduce the burden of consumption taxes, while reaffirming its readiness to work closely with the Federal Government on shared fiscal objectives.
On education, the governors were briefed on proposed reforms including a transition to a 12-year basic education system, the rollout of a digital education management platform, and the urgent need to expand secondary school infrastructure in response to rising enrolment.
They pledged continued cooperation with the Federal Government to improve access to quality education and ensure resources are efficiently deployed to underserved communities.
A key highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of the NGF Leadership Academy, which will operate as a dedicated directorate within the Forum’s Secretariat. The academy is expected to serve as a platform for executive training, governance research, peer learning, and advisory support for all 36 states.
Governors described the initiative as a strategic investment in institutional capacity aimed at strengthening leadership and improving governance outcomes nationwide.
The Forum also noted progress on agribusiness initiatives, including a rice value chain support programme backed by international partners, aimed at boosting food security and agricultural productivity.
In addition, governors reviewed a proposed State Police Framework developed in anticipation of constitutional amendments, outlining governance structures, financing models, and accountability mechanisms for potential decentralised policing.
The NGF reiterated its role as a coordination platform for states, emphasising its growing involvement in fiscal, education, agriculture, and security reforms aimed at addressing economic pressures and improving public service delivery across Nigeria.
