South-South governors to set up regional security outfit

South-South governors to set up regional security outfit

*** demand full implementation of 13% Derivation

The Governors of the South-South states on Thursday announced their resolution to establish a regional security outfit to stem increasing criminal activities in the region.

The governors, who met in Asaba, also resolved to insist on full implementation of 13 per cent Derivation and to adopt regional approach in tackling Coronavirus Disease otherwise known as Covid-19.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, Sen, (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, said that BRACED Commission, the economic think-tank of the region, had been mandated to work out the details of the proposed security outfit.

According to him, the commission will brief the governors on the details of the outfit at their next meeting to be held in Port Harcourt in May.

“We also took other decisions concerning Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the need to insist that 13 per cent Derivation must first be taken out of the funds that come from oil before the rest of the funds is shared at FAAC.

“The 13 per cent is supposed to be for the oil-producing states and that has not been the situation for a very long time and we agreed as Governors, to take up this matter at the appropriate levels.

“We also took a decision on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the need to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute the Advisory Board of the Commission because it has a major role to play, though in an advisory capacity.

“This is because we believe that there is a need to reposition NDDC to take on regional projects rather than small projects, and this we are going to pursue as quickly as possible,’’ the chairman said.

He stated that though no case of Coronavirus had been reported in the region, it was necessary for the governors to collectively be prepared on how to tackle it when it occurred, adding that action was also being taken over Lassa Fever epidemic.

Consequently, Okowa said that Commissioners for Health in the six states of the region, “who are experienced in medical protocols, will need to meet.