Governors decry imbalance in resource allocation

Governors of states that make up the old Western Region today criticised the present formula for resource allocation, saying it is to their states’ disadvantage.

The governors said based on the contributions of their states to the National Gross Domestic Product, more resources should have been coming to them.

The governors who stated their position on the issue today were those of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola; the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun .Mimiko, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ali Olanusi; and the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, represented by his deputy, Pius Odubu.

At the meeting hosted by Amosun in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the governors said: “The Governors further deplored the imbalance in resource allocation to states that make up the old Western Region given their contributions to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Governors reaffirmed their determination to ensure that justice is done on the revenue allocation framework in the country.”

They noted that the time had come for devolution of power because the Federal Government was handling too many things.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting stated: “The Federal Government is holding to too many responsibilities and power that are supposed to be within the purview of the federating states. The Governors considered it expedient to review the existing arrangement and devolve more power to the states.”

The communiqué of the meeting reads in full:

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MEETING OF GOVERNORS OF STATES IN THE OLD WESTERN REGION HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE, OKE-IGBEIN, ABEOKUTA

Preamble

The Governors of the States in the Old Western Region met on February 2nd, 2012 at the Government House, Oke Igbein, Abeokuta. The meeting, which deliberated on national issues and those of common interest to the Governments and people of their respective states, was a follow up to a similar meeting held in July, 2011 in Ekiti State. Some of the issues deliberated on are health, education, agriculture and food security, rural development, transportation and social housing.

In attendance were:

1. Senator Ibikunle Amosun FCA, Governor of Ogun

2. Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Governor of Lagos

3. Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti

4. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun

5. Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Oyo

6. Alhaji Alli Olanusi, Deputy Governor of Ondo

7. Barrister Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor of Edo

RESOLUTIONS:

The meeting resolved as follows:

1. SECRETARIAT

i. That a full-fledged secretariat be established for effective coordination of the goal to fully integrate the states in the Old Western Region

ii. That the meeting of the Governors should hold more frequently. In fact a bi-monthly schedule was agreed on

iii. The proposed secretariat would, when established, immediately develop a Blueprint and Work Plan or integration of the region and build on the work of the Technical Committee for integration

2. DEVOLUTION OF POWER

i. The Federal Government is holding to too many responsibilities and power that are supposed to be within the purview of the federating states. The Governors considered it expedient to review the existing arrangement and devolve more power to the states.

3. RESOURCE ALLOCATION

i. The Governors further deplored the imbalance in resource allocation to states that make up the old Western Region given their contributions to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Governors reaffirmed their determination to ensure that justice is done on the revenue allocation framework in the country.