THE governors of the six geo-political zone of the South-South geopolitical zone have called for a review of the current revenue allocation formula, to give more powers, responsibilities and funding to the States and Local Government as centres of growth.

A statement signed by the governors at the end of the three-day South-South Regional Summit in the Delta State capital of Asaba yesterday said that there was a need to strengthen the nascent governance structure in the Region to incorporate private sector and other non-state actors with a view to creating favourable policy, legal and regulatory environment that will stimulate greater private sector participation in the development initiatives of the Region.

On security, the governors, which included host Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, his counterpart from Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa; Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, called for continued proactive approach in managing security in the region.

The Summit reaffirmed the imperative of regional co-operation as a practical path towards national development and welcomes the emergence of other Regional Development Commissions with expression of readiness for co-operation with them by the BRACED Commission.

The governors said that there had been tremendous improvement on security in the region.

The governors also called for the adoption and implementation of policies that will release the vast potentials of service economy of the Region in the areas of creative industry, entertainment, culture and tourism. In pursuit of this a follow-up Culture and Tourism, the South-South governors said that a forum should be organised to draw up the Sector’s Road – Map for economic development.

While urging the restructuring and unbundling of the Federal Government, they argued that there was need to review the current policies and regulations on power and gas to enable the States generate, transmit and distribute power to complement the efforts of the Federal Government and facilitate the utilisation of moribund capacity in the Region.

According to them, such a move will promote and accelerate economic development in the South – South Region. In pursuit of this, the Summit accepted the development of a Niger Delta Energy Corridor, a project with potentials for connecting the people, industry and natural resources and creating jobs.

They said that they would ensure quality education in the Region and the adoption of ICT and collateral equipment for all levels of education (primary, secondary and tertiary). A renewed impetus in the areas of curriculum development, teachers’ preparation, re-certification (in-service and professional education) and holistic training approach was recommended.

They resolved to develop integrated transport facilities in the Region, through a balanced development of rail, roads, waterways and airport facilities and also to partner with the Federal Government and the Private Sector in the development of the Lagos – Calabar Railway Lines Project and press for the urgent completion of the East-West Highway. – Guardian

Posted by admin on Apr 29 2012. Filed under Headlines, South-South. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry