The Global Society for Anti-Corruption (GSAC), an NGO, has urged the governors of the 36 states to leverage on increased revenue allocation to empower Nigerians living within their states.
The group called on the Governors’ Forum to impress upon its members – the state governors – to reshape the socioeconomic status and quality of lives of their citizens through current increased monthly revenue allocation
The Research Director of the anti-corruption group, Miss Rosemary Aniorji, made the call in a press conference held in Enugu on Thursday.
Aniorji noted that it was clear that the governors had received a significant increase in allocations under President Bola Tinubu’s administration meant to empower Nigerians.
According to her, the group’s recent research evaluated Nigeria’s revenue allocations and covered all the 36 states of Nigeria from 2022 to 2024 with the month of May as a reference point.
She said: “The Data utilised in the research were collected from the official website of the National Bureau of Statistics and Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
“It was discovered that for May 2022, the 36 states got an aggregate of gross statutory allocation of N241.82 billion; and for May 2023 the 36 states got an aggregate of gross statutory allocation of N299.92 billion.
“While for May 2024 the 36 states got an aggregate of gross statutory allocation of N388.42 billion.”
The research director said that the increased revenue allocation should never be diverted to personal use or misappropriated; but should be directed towards enhancing exportation, similar to practices in other countries.
She noted that effective use of these revenue resources can alleviate national tensions, particularly concerning the country’s economic situation, as the Federal Government had made commendable strides in boosting revenue allocations.
“It is now up to the Governors’ Forum to build on this momentum and ensure that the funds reach the masses, promoting their welfare.
“We must move beyond assigning blame and focus on taking action.
“The Governors’ Forum is encouraged to adopt innovative approaches to address the needs of the populace.
“Engaging Nigeria’s vibrant youths in productive activities is essential for curbing societal issues; and providing opportunities for growth can serve as a catalyst for meaningful change,” she said.
Aniorji said that with the current significant revenue increase, “it is crucial that we see a marked reduction in economic hardship.”
She noted that if the governors focus on encouraging the populace to engage in exporting the country’s domestic products, “it will create a mutually beneficial situation for all parties involved.”
“This will position Nigeria as a key player on the world stage, with significant influence in international affairs,” she added.