S’East govs, Ohanaeze, demand new revenue sharing formula

Posted by admin Governors, South-East Sunday, June 12th, 2011

THE governors of the five South-East states as well as political leaders of note across the region met yesterday in Enugu where they joined in the clamour for the review of revenue sharing formula as basis for the payment of the new minimum wage.

At the meeting held in Government House, Enugu were Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Sullivan Chime (Enugu); Theodore Orji (Abia); Peter Obi (Anambra); Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ralph Uwaechue.

Also, people of South-East have called on the Federal Government and elected officials in the region to pursue good governance and fast-track development process in the area. .

The South-East Forum (SEF) made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of a “strategy meeting on democracy and governance in the South East,” which reviewed current challenges confronting the states in the region.

Stressing that the zone was ready and willing to pay the new minimum wage of N18,000 which had since been signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, the South-East leaders insisted on the review of the sharing formula to make up for the shortfall and financial burden the new wage would put on the South-East states. .

The leaders also revisited the abandoned Zik’s Centre, a project initiated by Anyim during his tenure as Senate President to immortalise the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and pledged their commitment to ensuring its completion.

Reading a nine-point communiqué reached at the end of the over five-hour meeting, Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, Obi, restated the commitment of the zone to supporting the President Jonathan led administration, stressing that they would do this by carrying their people along. .

The communiqué added: “We have resolved to meet regularly on issues affecting the region and Nigeria. The various states as a zone remain committed to the payment of N18,000 minimum wage as prescribed by law. We join the clamour for the review of sharing formula so as to help the states pay the new minimum wage”. .

The South-East leaders also expressed their gratitude to God for the quick recovery of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from his illness.

They also thanked President Jonathan for appointing Anyim as Secretary to Government of the Federation and wished their kinsman well on his new duties. .

They also congratulated the National Assembly for the election of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Ihedioha, promising to work with them and others for the good of Ndigbo and Nigeria. .

The SEF noted that in the 2011 general elections, the electorate hoped for the emergence of public office holders who would reflect the will of the people but have since been disappointed.

It wrote: “Their vigilance in pursuit of this desire resulted in outcomes that were celebrated in the states. On the whole however, the existing political leadership of the region has been a disappointment to the people of the state and federal levels.”

-Guardianwp_posts