Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has reiterated his call for a revision of Nigeria’s revenue allocation formula to align with principles of fiscal federalism.
This call was conveyed in a statement issued by Daniel Alabrah, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, on Sunday, May 12, 2024.
In the statement, Governor Diri expressed concern over the current practice where states, particularly those rich in resources like those in the Niger Delta, receive only a meager 13% monthly allocation from their own resources. He emphasized that this skewed federalism model has impeded the development of states across the country.
Governor Diri made these remarks while speaking in Houston, Texas, where he was honored with the “Icon of Unity and Social Justice” award by Ijaws residing in the United States of America and Canada. The award was conferred during the three-day 2024 convention organized by the Ijaw National Congress (INC)-Americas.
Other notable individuals honored at the event included former Nigerian First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and renowned author and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo.
The event was attended by dignitaries such as the President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, former INC President Chief Joshua Fumudoh, Chairman of INC-Americas, Mr. Kenneth Anga, and former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe, among others.
