Rapid Development: Devolution of Powers Is the Answer-Gov Ikpeazu
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has advocated for a devolution of power to allow States have fiscal control of resources in their domain. Ikpeazu further called for an end to federal government’s designation of ‘Trunk A’ roads, currently being managed by it, arguing that funds for building and maintaining such roads, would be better managed by state governments.
The governor stated this, while receiving the State Representative and Commissioner in the Federal Revenue Mobilization and Accounts Allocation Commission, Abuja, Dr Chris Akomas, at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba.
Ikpeazu, said that since States, were in the forefront of bearing the environmental degradations in locations from which the resources were obtained, they ought to take fiscal responsibilities of harnessing them, and pay royalties to the federal government.
He further said the second-tier governments, were better disposed to handling issues of releasing a percentage of the accrued funds to host communities, for proper development of their land.
“We want the federal government to allow States to be in charge of fiscal revenues accruing from resources in their land and pay royalties to it. This is because, it is the States and their people that suffer environmental degradation and since it is so, it becomes logical, for them to fiscally control the resources in their land and also take care of the producing communities.”
On the issues of dilapidated federal roads in parts of the State, Ikpeazu, said it was wrong for the central government, to control funds meant for rehabilitation of such roads, since most of them were being handled by the States.
“It is wrong for the federal government to control funds meant for rehabilitating such roads in parts of the States. We in Abia, are currently handling federal roads in Aba, like Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba/Owerri Road, Osisioma NNPC Depot Road, which has a major federal government investment, as well as Port Harcourt Road.
“It would have served us better, if States are allowed to handle funds meant for rehabilitation of such roads in parts of their land. Due to the poor state of the roads, people passing through Abia to other parts of the country, do not believe we are building roads.
The Governor, said a Committee headed by the Commissioner of Finance, was being set up, to present the State’s position on revenue, at the zonal public hearing being planned by the Commission, on new revenue sharing formula.
Speaking earlier, Dr Akomas, said he and his team were on a sensitization visit to intimate the Governor and the people of the State, on the need to participate in the upcoming zonal meeting.
Akomas, a former deputy governor of the State, said attendance to the public discuss, was necessary in view of the need to contribute ideas that will guide the formulation of a new sharing formula for the country, beginning from January, 2022. The team was also in Umuahia, the State capital, where it’s members met and interacted with other stakeholders.