- Governor Douye Diri advocates for a review of Nigeria’s revenue derivation formula to address the imbalance in resource allocation
- Diri challenges the perception of Bayelsa’s financial dependency on federal allocation, emphasizing the need for resource autonomy and development
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has stated that the country’s “lopsided federalism” impedes state development and has called for a review of the country’s revenue derivation formula to align with fiscal federalism.
The governor spoke over the weekend in Houston, Texas, where Ijaws from the United States and Canada presented him with the “Icon of Unity and Social Justice” award as part of the Ijaw National Congress (INC)-America’s three-day 2024 convention.
Diri questioned the current practice in which resource-rich Nigerian states, particularly those in the Niger Delta, receive only 13% of the monthly allocation.
He insisted that it was wrong to describe Bayelsa as insolvent and unable to exist without monthly federal allocation. At the same time, its resources were being appropriated to Abuja and shared with other states in the country.
He said, “The leadership of the Niger Delta has been with the Ijaw over the years. Now it looks like we are getting tired. But we should not. We have to continue with our leadership role while galvanising support from our regional neighbours and brothers.
“The Niger Delta is an area that should be better than it is if we were allowed to use our resources for our development.”
Diri’s spokesman, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said in a statement that the convention also honoured Dame Patience Jonathan, a former Nigerian First Lady; Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum; and Bubaraye Dakolo, a renowned author and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom.