Nigerians have expressed support for the retention of security vote for state governors and underscored the need for the money to be accounted for.
However, some of the 2,073 respondents in a nationwide survey by the News Agency of Nigeria said that such provision should be stopped.
In Abuja, 18 of the 20 sampled respondents unanimously called for full account of the money provided as security vote, while two persons did not return their questionnaires.
While nine persons wanted the status quo to be maintained, eight people rejected it, while one person was undecided.
Similarly, 12 people advocated that it be expunged from the constitution, while six others said it should not.
No fewer than 11 respondents said that between 10 and 20 per cent should be devoted to security vote.
Four people voted for between 30 and 40 per cent, while two others were undecided.
In the South West, of the 600 questionnaires administered, 373 respondents, representing 62.2 per cent, expressed support for security vote, while 210 people, or 35 per cent, wanted it scrapped.
Also, 402 respondents, or 67 per cent, said governors should account for the money, while 148 people, or 24.6 per cent, opposed it and the remaining were undecided.
Similarly, 282 people, or 47 per cent, in the North East, said governors should continue to enjoy security vote.
The survey showed that of the 600 questionnaires administered, 234 people or 39 per cent voted against it, while 84 people, or 14 per cent, were undecided.
In the South East, no fewer than 50 people of the sampled population agreed that the status quo should remain.
However, 43 respondents wanted it stopped and seven others were undecided.
The survey further revealed that 42 respondents voted that security vote be expunged from the constitution, but 52 people voted for its retention, with six declaring no comments.
In addition, 70 people voted that the governors should account for the security vote, while 25 per cent said it should not be accounted for, with five undecided.
Another 54 respondents said between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the budgetary allocation should be reserved for security vote.
On the other hand, 19 people recommended between 30 per cent and 40 per cent and six others suggested above 40 per cent.
In the North West, where only 273 respondents were sampled in Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto States, 121 people, representing 44.32 per cent, supported governors receiving security vote.
The survey indicated that 108 people, or 39.6 per cent, of those sampled, said it should not be expunged, while 170 others, representing 62.3 per cent, canvassed that it should accounted for.
In the North Central zone, 99 per cent of those sampled supported the retention of security vote, but suggested that governors should account for the money.
Also in the South South, a majority of the respondents also said status quo should be maintained.
However, they called for more transparency and accountability in the management of such money.
They also rejected the view that security vote should be expunged from the constitution.
NAN.
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