Fashola, Babangida call for increased funding of states, LGs

10.02.2008

Niger State Governor, Dr Aliyu Muazu Babangida and his Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday jointly called for additional revenue allocation to states and Local Governments from the Federation account. Dr Babangida and Mr Fashola spoke at the Alausa, seat of the Lagos State Government, when the former paid a courtesy visit to Governor Fashola.

According to the Niger State governor, the federal government has no basis for getting the larger share of the proceeds of savings in the federal purse, when it has no defined territories of its own. Also supporting the view and reiterating his persistent call for a review of the revenue sharing formular in the nation, Governor Fashola said corporate Nigeria is in all the 36 states, and not only in Abuja .

He said that with the privatization of several of the nation’s commonwealth, the spending portfolio of the government at the center has considerably reduced and should be a basis for reducing its need for funding.

Governor Fashola added that it is the states and local government areas that people live in that require the resources to make life worth living for the populace.

He explained that there should be no master/servant relationship between the federal government and the states as every official that functions at the federal level originated from a particular state.

Governor Babangida described Governor Fashola as an asset to both Lagos and Nigeria and one whose opinion is respected by his contemporaries who regard his silence at either the Governor’s Forum or the National Economic Council meeting as a sign of an incomplete deliberation.

In his words: “We value his opinion at every deliberation, they are very measured, but tailored to ensure the progress of Nigeria as nation”. Dr Muazu described Fashola as a leader who exemplifies simplicity of life and an epitome of what ideal governance should be, adding that President Umaru Yar’adua is another example of an accessible leader.

He also identified the signing into law of the micro finance bill as another step which has placed Lagos ahead of others, revealing that plans are just being perfected by the federal and state governments to fashion out a micro finance policy bill when Lagos has already signed one into law.