By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State has again called for a review of the country’s revenue derivation formula in line with the practice of fiscal federalism.
He queried the existing practice where resource-endowed states in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta, get a paltry 13 per cent as monthly allocation from their resources.
Governor Diri in a statement issued on Sunday by Daniel Alabrah his Chief Press Secretary maintained that the country’s lopsided federalism practice had hindered the development of states.
The Bayelsa governor was speaking in Houston, Texas, when Ijaws in the United States of America and Canada conferred on him the award of “Icon of Unity and Social Justice.”
The three-day 2024 convention was held under the auspices of the Ijaw National Congress (INC)-Americas.
Also honoured were the former Nigerian first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as well as renowned author and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo.
Present at the well-attended event were the President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, one of his predecessors, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, Chairman, INC-Americas, Mr. Kenneth Anga as well as former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Ndutimi Alaibe among other dignitaries.