- Condemns Over-Dependence on Federal Statutory Allocations
In view of the extreme cluelessness and bias of the APC Federal Government, Southern governors’ non-partisan objectivity deserves further applause, a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Teejay Yusuf has said.
According to Honourable Yusuf (PDP, Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency) those with conscience among Northern Governors should follow suit by supporting the objective recommendations of their southern counterparts, without political, ethnic or religious sentiments.
In a statement, Honourable Teejay Yusuf commended all the governors who met in Asaba last Tuesday under, under the auspices of the Southern Nigeria Governors Forum (SNGF),to discuss worsening insecurity and other matters affecting citizens.
“It was impressive that the governors had jettisoned political partisanship, putting nation-building and development first in their dealings; their recommendations resonate very well with citizens’ worst fears and genuine concerns.
“It is noteworthy that while their recommendations have been long overdue, the governors called on the President to do the simple but reassuring task of addressing the nation as his words will be best regarded at this time.
“It is overdue and done in the interest of the nation; for the first time, I find our governors jettisoning partisanship and putting the issue of nation-building and development at the forefront during their meeting and I am impressed,” he stated.
He further emphasized the need for the nineteen northern governors to take similarly bold, pro-people stance.
“The southern governors are calling the President to speak to Nigeria because they feel that as the leader of the nation, when the nation is in crisis, the leader ought to rise to the occasion, his words bring succour, his words bring direction, his words speak to certain situations that ordinarily will not regard just any other person: in situations like this, the President should rise and speak.”
“It is now for our brothers from the north to see beyond partisanship, to see beyond ethnicity, religion and adopt the procedure that has been laid down,” Yusuf stated.
Commenting further, he demanded a review of the method used in sharing monthly statutory revenues to states across the country, noting that it discourages innovative economic solutions in various states.
According to Yusuf, state governments’ over-dependence on the federal statutory Allocations is part of reasons why the country is going through economic and security challenges.
“Part of the reason why we have insecurity is because the center has so much and people feel encouraged to come from outside Nigeria – people who are not Nigerians.
“I make bold to say lots of these criminals are people who come to Nigeria in the aftermath of the crisis in the Sahara regions of Africa; so many assume that the money in Abuja is free money.”
He also called on state governments to exercise optimal authority over their resources, independently explore innovative means of revenue-generation and prioritize issues that are of major concern to citizens in their respective states.
