Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has advocated that the revenue allocation formula should be restructured to ensure federating units get more allocation than the centre
He stated this when some group visited him to pay sallah homage in Sokoto on Wednesday .
Tambuwal said: “There’s urgent need to review the allocation formula in the country because doing so will strenghten the Nigerian federation and help to shed off some of the excess powers the Federal Government currently has,”
The groups which visited him include the Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Association of Resident Communities, Sokoto Women Association and a Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations, among others.
Tambuwal particularly said that the states and local government areas deserve more allocation because they shoulder overwhelming responsibilities of the citizens of the country.
The governor noted that states and the local governments are the closest tiers of government to the people, but they are getting less than the federal government’s allocation from the federation account.
“The ugly trend should be reversed in favour of the federating units, to enable them meet the overwhelming demands of the people at grassroots level,” he said.
Tambuwal used the avenue to disagree with those advocating for the geographical restructuring of the country, stressing that with good governance in place, all Nigerians will be made to have a sense of belonging.
Commenting on the unity of the nation, Tambuwal said “We believe in the unity of the country and the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable. Dialogue is also the most potent tool to resolve all problems, anywhere and at anytime.
“There are really challenges in Nigeria, and it is not peculiar to the nation, and these challenges are surmountable,” he said.
He further described members of the resident communities as equal partners in running the affairs of the state, promising that his administration would not discriminate against anybody, irrespective of his tribe or religion.
