Opposition govs accuse FG of manipulating Federation Account

Opposition governors, yesterday, accused the Federal Government of
deliberately manipulating the Federation Account to give the
impression that there were inadequate funds to share despite steady
oil prices since the beginning of the year.
The governors, who met in Abuja under the Progressive Governors'
Forum, PGF, also condemned the Federal Government for illegal
deductions from states' funds.
Besides, the All Progressive Congress, APC, governors frowned at what
they called 'flagrant disregard by the Federal Government of the
Constitution and the Appropriation Act with regards to collection and
sharing of government revenue and implementation of budgets.
The governors wondered why the President Goodluck Jonathan's
administration had been consistently unable to implement budget
provisions, which it willingly formulated and passed into law by the
National Assembly.
In a communiqué, the governors vowed to take appropriate legal actions
to compel the Federal Government to respect the constitutional rights
of states and comply fully with the Appropriation Act.
"We wish to say that there is no justification for the continuous
dwindling revenue collections into the Federation Account given that
the price of crude oil, being the main revenue earner, has been
relatively stable and above $100 per barrel since the beginning of
2013.
"Forum excoriates the Federal Government's consistent flagrant
disregard for the Constitution and the Appropriation Act as passed by
the National Assembly.
"In fact, we wonder why the Jonathan's administration is unable to
implement the budget provisions, which it willingly formulated and
which the National Assembly passed into law," the governors noted.
Turning to the political turf, the governors dismissed the
just-concluded Delta Central Senatorial by-election, which was won by
the PDP, as a charade and vowed to challenge it in court.
According to them, the outcome of the election rubbishes Jonathan's
avowed pronouncement to promote credible, free and fair elections.
They expressed concern at the Independent National Electoral
Commission's weakness to conduct free and fair elections despite huge
funds that had been channelled to the commission by the government.
The governors said they were watching how INEC and other supporting
federal agencies would ensure that the forthcoming governorship
election in Anambra is free and fair.
They noted, "In the face of the sham in Delta, forum's confidence in
INEC is shaky unless urgent measures are set in motion to ensure that
Anambra Governorship election is credible and transparent.
"In same vein, forum calls on INEC to immediately set machinery in
motion for the conclusion of the Oguta State Assembly election, as it
is inconceivable that INEC cannot successfully conduct election in
five polling booths."
"Finally, the forum urges Nigerians to remain steadfast in the face of
desperate socio-economic circumstances and intimidating security
challenges as it assures that it will remain committed to take all
necessary initiatives to provide life more abundant for all. Forum
calls for continuous support from all good people of Nigeria," the
governors stated.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the governors of Ekiti, who
hosted the meeting, Imo, Osun, Oyo, Yobe and Borno, who was
represented by his deputy.