Progressive Governors Forum

The PGF is made up of governors on the platform of the ruling party, APC. Members are as follows;

• Babagana Umara Zulum
• Kayode Fayemi
• Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya
• Hope Uzodinma
• Badaru Abubakar
• Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai
• Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
• Aminu Bello Masari
• Abubakar Atiku Bagudu
• Yahaya Bello
• Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq
• Babajide Sanwo-Olu
• Abdullahi A. Sule
• Abubakar Sani Bello
• Rotimi Akeredolu
• Dapo Abiodun
• Adegboyega Oyetola
• Simon Lalong
• Mai Mala Buni

On 24 February 2014, the Progressive Governors converged in Ibadan, Oyo State, for the first Progressive Governance Lecture, which was tagged "Unemployment and the Crisis of Governance in Nigeria: The Way Forward". The aim of the lecture was to examine the unemployment crisis in Nigeria in order to proffer solutions which would result in mass job creation.

At the event, the governors stated that they would work on recommendations gathered in order to help direct policy formulation and implementation within APC states.[7]

On Monday, 24 March 2014, the PGF held a roundtable session with legislators within the APC and select Civil Society Organisations. The theme of the roundtable session was ‘Improving governance through transparent budgeting, accountability and effective public financial management'. The event was chaired by the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and some of the issues it was convened to tackle include the lack of transparency and accountability in budget implementation, budget and budget process in the National Assembly, the role of public finance management in good governance, and the 20 billion Dollars reported missing in the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC).

A communiqué was issued and some of the recommendations made include establishing a budget timetable in order to ensure that the budgeting process is not dependent upon the Federal Government, strengthening institutions in order to promote accountability in budgeting, designing the budgeting process based on sector plans and not statements of intended expenses (as is currently being done) and making provisions for a closing figure for the previous year before presenting a new budget, among others.[8]

Sequel to the first Progressive Governance Lecture, a second lecture took place in Kano State in May 2014, titled: "Crisis in Nigeria’s Education: Addressing the Connect between Unemployment and Insecurity". At this event, the host, Governor Kwankwaso of Kano State, elucidated on the steps being taken by his administration to reduce the spate of crime by encouraging youths to become educated. This, he said, had been achieved through a free education programme in the state. The Chairman of the PGF, Governor Rochas Okorocha, also asked that politicians work together to combat the scourge of terrorism irrespective of party affiliation.[9]

The PGF had, after a terrorist attack in Nyanya, a suburb on the outskirts of Abuja on 14 April 2014, paid visits to victims in the National Hospital, Abuja, and the Asokoro General Hospital and donated a relief fund of N100million.[10]

Following deliberations at the first and second Progressive Governance Lectures, this workshop was organised in Port-Harcourt in July 2014 for the purpose of designing policies which would aid educational development in APC states. In attendance were commissioners of education from at least 13 of the 16 APC states and some deputy governors, among other state officials.[11][12]

The PGF, before the inauguration of the new administration in May, 2015, organised a retreat for all APC governors (both returning and outgoing) and governors-elect. The aim of the retreat was to design governance strategies which would enable them deliver on the party's campaign promises, and to provide the incoming governors with the necessary knowledge on governance and administrative duties.[13]