Don proposes new revenue formula for Nigeria
Following the ongoing clamour across the country for a rejig of the current revenue formula, which has given its chunk to the Federal Government, as against the states and local governments across the country, a university lecturer has proposed a new formula to be adopted by the government, so as to address critical issues, such as fiscal federalism, equity and justice in Nigeria.
According to Professor Samuel J. Timothy-Asobele, of the Department of European Languages, University of Lagos, who made the suggestion, while presenting a paper entitled: ‘Reading from 3 unending transition plays,’ at the University of Lagos, on Thursday, said, “This will address the inequality and agitations across the country.
The Federal Government should allow the states and local governments handle economic sectors like, agriculture, water resources, forestry, tourism and roads, while it the government at the centre handles foreign policy, finance, etc.”
He said that various groups agitating for Nigeria’s breakup, particularly the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, should not be allowed to have their way, but however, urged the government to address their demands, as well as tackle unemployment, injustice, poverty and crimes/criminality that are threatening the existence of the country.
He said theatre remained a tool to correct economic and social ills in the country, and counseled that, with a solid economic base, economic disparity in the country would be addressed.
Timothy-Asobele said, “Nigeria is a collective responsibility, we are using the theater to stop any impending war in this country.”
Alluding to Timothy-Asobele’ position, Professor Hope Eghagha, Head Department of English Language in the same university, who was the programme’s moderator, said each federating unit should be allowed to control its resources, as it was in the pre- and immediate post-independence eras.
“We had cocoa in the Western Region, palm oil in the Eastern Region, while groundnut, cotton, hides and skin were produced in the Northern Region, so let each state control its own resources.”
