By Abdullahi Alhassan Kaduna The Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) vehemently rejects the Federal Government's plan to reloc...
The Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) vehemently rejects the Federal Government's plan to relocate the Ministry of Aviation and select Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) departments to Lagos. Dr. Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu, President of NCM, expressed concerns during a press conference, urging the government to reconsider this significant move that impacts the nation's financial and aviation sectors.
NCM firmly believes that the decision to shift key institutions from Abuja to Lagos is not in the best interest of the Northern Region and other parts of Nigeria. Dr. Aliyu perceives it as a deliberate plot, fostering antagonistic actions and, more critically, a hidden agenda to isolate the North.
The movement aligns itself with the Northern Senators, particularly Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, who issued a statement opposing the planned relocation. The Senators have expressed readiness to pursue legal action should the government proceed with this decision. NCM applauds both Northern and Southern counterparts who have joined in this stance.
Drawing attention to an internal memo signed by FAAN Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku, wherein Minister of Aviation Festus Kayamo directed the agency's headquarters to move to Lagos, NCM sees this as a pivotal moment requiring collective resistance.
Explaining the legal aspect, Dr. Aliyu cited the CBN Establishment Act of 2007, emphasizing that the Bank's head office should be in the capital, and branches can be established across Nigeria. NCM contends that the disadvantages of relocation, including financial costs and potential disruptions to operational efficiency, outweigh any perceived benefits.
The movement emphasizes the morale disaffection among employees forced to uproot their families, leading to a potential loss of institutional knowledge and expertise. Additionally, with the Federal Capital Territory offering ample space for expansion, NCM questions the necessity of overburdening Lagos's already stressed facilities and infrastructure.
Beyond the financial and logistical concerns, the movement sees the government's decision as having significant political implications, potentially fueling perceptions of a sectional agenda. The 2023 General Election voting patterns are cited, where the Northern States overwhelmingly supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, receiving over five million votes, contrasting with the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
NCM urges the government to reconsider the relocation, considering the multifaceted implications on the Northern Region, financial stability, and political dynamics in Nigeria.
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