For the first time in 12 years,
Governors of the Southern States of Nigeria on Monday met in Lagos, where they
unanimously reiterated the call for true federalism and
devolution of powers to
States.
The Governors, in a communique at
the end of the meeting read by the host Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos
State, also resolved to collaborate with one another for the growth and
development of their economies. Aside Governor Ambode, the meeting was attended
by Governors of Ogun, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo, Seantor Abiola Ajimobi;
Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ebonyi, David Umahi; Edo, Mr. Godwin Obaseki;
Ondo, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Abia, Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Enugu, Mr.
Henry Ugwuanyi; Bayelsa, Mr. Seriaki Dickson and Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele
Fayose. Governors of Cross River, Anambra and Delta were represented by their
Deputies – Mr. Evara Esu; Dr. Ikem Okeke and Mr. Kingsley Otuaru respectively.
Continuing with the communique, Governor Ambode said the Governors after
extensive deliberations, also emphasized priority on security and lives and
property of citizens of the regions, while also resolving to work on effective
linkage on good infrastructure across the 17 States in the region. At the
meeting, Governor Ambode was unanimously appointed as the Chairman of the
Southern Governors Forum (SGF) while Governors Seriaki Dickson of Bayelsa and
David Umahi of Ebonyi States were appointed as Co- Chairmen of the Forum.
The Forum also scheduled the next
meeting for Port Harcourt in a yet to be announced date. Earlier, Governor
Ambode, while welcoming his colleagues to the meeting, reflected on the clamour
for true federalism and devolution of powers, saying that states will benefit
from the envisaged restructuring. He said the goals of true federalism, which
included the strengthening of autonomy and the enhancement of fiscal viability
will enable the states to develop at their own pace and based on their
peculiarities.
He said the forum had achieved an
increased awareness on the sustenance of the national question germane to
peaceful co-existence in the country. However, he said there is a lot to be
done and achieved, stressing that true federalism required urgent, meticulous
and proactive attention by the forum. Ambode frowned at 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 is crucial to enhance the
viability of states and local government and their capacity to fulfil their
developmental roles in the polity.
The governor added: “States are disparaged for
always carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest of hand-outs 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 province 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 even meeting routine obligations of
paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal support.” Ambode recalled
that Lagos State had fought and won several legal battles since 1999 that have
systematically strengthened her autonomy and enhanced her fiscal viability. He
noted that the state had won the legal control over the management of its
environment, the control of urban and physical planning, the regulation of
overhead masts, the registration and regulation of hotels and restaurants, and
the control of inland waterways.
Ambode said these victories
belonged, not only to Lagos, but also to other states, adding that, if Lagos
could achieve so much by fighting alone, the Southern Governors’ Forum will
accomplish more through collective planning and strategy. The governor said the
forum has been reactivated at the time the National Assembly is harmonising its
differences over the 1999 Constitution amendment, which will soon be
transmitted to the Houses of Assembly for approval He said: “It is important
for this forum to comprehensively look at the proposed amendments with a view
to working with our respective Houses of Assembly to ensure a coordinated
response on our part that will strengthen the practice of democracy,
federalism, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
Ambode clarified that, while pushing
for greater devolution of powers, responsibilities and resources from the
centre to the states, the goal of the forum is neither to a weak centre and
strong states and vice versa. The governor paid tribute to former Lagos State
Governor Bola Tinubu for his initiave, recalling that he hosted the first
meeting of the forum in Akodo Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, whe he was at the helm
of affairs. He said while the initiative was received with mixed feelings at
the time, Tinubu was vindicated later because of its achievements as the forum
became a vocal voice on maters of critical importance, not only to the Southern
Nigeria, but to the country as a whole.
Ambode hailed the forum for advocating 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 Federation Account. He said: “Another major victory won
towards strengthening the country’s practice of true federalism was the
declaration bybthe Supreme Court in 2002 that the then prevalent practice of
the Federal Government deducting monies from the Federation Account as a first
charge for the funding of Joint Venture Contracts, the NNPC priority projects,
servicing of Federal Government’s external debt, the judiciary and the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT) and other federal obligations were illegal and
unconstitutional.
“The Supreme Court in that case
abolished the special funds created by the Federal Government to enable it draw
funds from the Federation Account to pay for matters that fell within its
exclusive responsibility before sharing whatever was left with states and local
governments.”
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