The governors of the southern states of
Nigeria on Monday met in Lagos State, insisting on true federalism and
devolution of powers to states.....
The governors, who met in the Lagos
House, Ikeja, after 12 years of such meeting, also resolved to
collaborate with one another for the growth of their economies.
In a communique issued at the end of the
meeting and read by the host governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, they also
emphasised priority on security of lives and property of citizens, while
also resolving to work on effective linkage of infrastructure across
the 17 states in the region.
Aside from Ambode, the meeting was
attended by governors of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi;
Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, Ebonyi, David Umahi; Edo, Godwin Obaseki; Ondo,
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu, Henry Ugwuanyi;
Bayelsa, Seriaki Dickson; and Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose.
The governors of Cross River, Anambra
and Delta states were represented by their deputies – Evara Esu; Ikem
Okeke and Kingsley Otuaru, respectively.
At the meeting, Ambode was appointed as
the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum (SGF), while Dickson and
Umahi were appointed as Co- Chairmen.
While welcoming his colleagues to the
meeting earlier, Ambode reflected on the clamour for true federalism and
devolution of powers, saying states would benefit from the envisaged
restructuring.
Ambode frowned on what he described as
the non-periodic review of the revenue formula as provided by the
constitution to reflect evolving realities.
He said the review was crucial to
enhancing the viability of states and local governments and their
capacity to fulfil their developmental roles.
“States are disparaged for always
carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest for handouts from the Federal
Government. This is a function of our present national constitution that
burdens the Federal Government with activities and responsibilities
that rightly fall within the purview of states.
“The productivity and revenue-generating
capacities of most states are thus stifled, thus turning them into no
better than street-beggar states incapable of meeting routine
obligations of paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal
support.”
Ambode clarified that while pushing for
greater devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources from the
centre to the states, the goal of the forum was not to create a weak
centre and strong states and vice-versa.
The governor paid tribute to former
Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu for his initiative, recalling that he
hosted the first meeting of the forum in Akodo Beach Resort,
Ibeju-Lekki, when he was at the helm of affairs.
He said the initiative was vindicated
because of its achievements as it became a vocal voice on matters of
critical importance to the southern Nigeria and the country as a whole.
Ambode hailed the forum for calling for a
special allocation to oil-producing states in the Federation Account,
adding that its agitation led to the current 13 per cent revenue
derivation and allocation from the federal purse.
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