Business
Chieftain Harps On Efficient Funds Management
A leading member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr Denis Aghanya, last Thursday called for efficient management of the funds being received by state governments, instead of the current agitation for a new revenue sharing formula.
“Some people are saying that the revenue allocation formula is lopsided, but the issue people should worry about is the effective management of revenue allocated to states, ministries and departments,” Aghanya told The Tide source in Lagos.
The CPC chieftain alleged that there was too much corruption in the states, citing the recent conviction of former Delta governor, James Ibori, by a UK court on fraud charges.
“In the South-South for instance, a lot of money is allocated to that region, so, emphasis should be on the criminality of most of our leaders in the management of funds,’’ he said
He advised the Northern Governors Forum not to worry about the alleged lopsidedness of revenue allocation, but rather emphasise on the management of the revenue accruable to their states.
He advised against heating up the polity with the revenue allocation controversy.
He also called for more dedication among political office holders to enable them utilise public fundsfor the benefit of the masses.
On the increase to the 2012 budget proposed by the National Assembly, Aghanya said that the legislators were not in a position to increase the budget.
“The National Assembly has no right to increase the budget but they have the right to recommend a reduction.
“But if they want to increase it, they also have the right to make recommendation for increments, but not to unilaterally increase the budget,’’ he said.
According to the CPC scribe, the budget is a document that went through a long process before getting to the National Assembly.