S’South Govs Reject Waterways Bill, Back Power Devolution, Fiscal Federalism, Restructuring

Gov Seriake Dickson

Governors of the South-south zone have rejected the Waterways Bill proposed by the Federal Government.

The six governors of the zone, under the auspices of the South-south Governors Forum, have also resolved to unanimously work with like minds to ensure the restructuring of the country and a return to true federalism.

These were the outcomes of the emergency meeting of the governors convened by the governor of Bayelsa State and chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Honourable Henry Seriake Dickson, at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Bayelsa State, Francis Ottah Agbo, said the governors noted that for Nigeria to be stable, peaceful and prosperous, it must be restructured and powers must be devolved from the centre to the federating units

The governors vowed to work with like minds across Nigeria to make restructuring and fiscal federalism a reality.

At the meeting, the governors rejected the Waterways Bill being proposed by the Federal Government.

The bill empowers the Federal Government to own and control the waterways and their resources and activities.

The forum condemned the bill and called on the Federal Government to embark on further consultations on it in order to get the buy-in of Nigerians.

Source: This Day