GOVERNORS of states that made the old Western Region of Nigeria have canvassed for the review of the revenue allocation formula for even development, saying that the present allocation system was imbalance.

Six of the governors were elected on the ticket of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and one from the Labour Party (LP).

Rising from a four-hour meeting held at the Government House, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the governors noted imbalance in resource allocation to the region, despite their contribution to the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, which had in attendance the host governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; governors of Ekiti, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; Oyo, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and Lagos, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

Also, the deputy governors of Ondo and Edo states, Alhaji Alli Olanusi and Mr Pius Obudu, were in attendance.

The governors also contended that the Federal Government was holding much power and responsibilities to itself which, they said, must be in purview of the federating states.

They also said it had become expedient to review the existent system, adding that more power should be devolved to the states.

“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 communique read.

The governors also agreed that a modern secretariat should be established for effective coordination of the goal, to fully integrate the states in the old Western Region, stressing further that the meeting should be bi-monthly.
The proposed secretariat, according to the communique, when established, would develop a blueprint and workplan on integration of the region and build on the work of the technical committee for integration.

The meeting bemoaned the deplorable power supply in the country, adding that “the management of the distribution assets is what is militating against efficient power supply.”

They resolved to convene stakeholders’ forum consisting of legislators at national and state levels, as well as leaders of thoughts to discuss the state of the nation.

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