Dennis Naku
10 November 2009
Yenagoa — Tough times now await illegal bunkerers across the country as governors of the 36 states yesterday called for legislation to check the illicit activity, while those who engage in the economic crime would have their names published.
The governors lamented that illegal bunkering has taken its toll on the nation's economy said people arrested engaging in the act must be decisively punished to serve as a deterrent to others who may be interested in the act of sabotage.
This is part of a six point communiqué issued at the end of the meeting of the Governors Forum in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital on Sunday night, just as the forum charged the federal government to expedite action on all areas needing emergency.
As part of its resolve the forum said it was unanimously supporting the amnesty and post amnesty initiatives of the apex government and implored the repentant militants leaders to continue to support the rehabilitation and integration process, which as been prone to delays due to checks and balances inherent in a democratic system.
Chairman, governor' s Forum, Chief Bukola Saraki of Kwara state who read the communiqué however urged the federal government should improve its information dissemination machinery in order to properly educate and enlighten the grassroot on what the government is doing, especially with the post amnesty initiatives.
The forum also threw their weight behind the principle of deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, but stressed the need to sensitize the public on the philosophy and benefits behind the process.
Saraki who explained that the governors' were meeting for the first time outside Abuja, was in solidarity with Chief Executives of the Niger Delta on the success recorded on the amnesty programme.
The governor' s resolved to partner with the NESG as one of the prominent private sector-led economic think-tank in the country to participate in setting Nigeria's economic agenda together with the NESG and other stakeholders for the purpose of economic growth and development of the country.
Meanwhile, civil society groups, including the Action Congress(AC) in Bayelsa state through its Secretary, Miriki Ebikibina have reacted to the forum, commending the governors for supporting the post amnesty programme and the deregulation principle, but noted that they needed to consult widely with other stakeholders from the sector on the issue of deregulation.
But, Chairman, Association of Good Governance, Chief Preye Olomu said the hosting of the 36 governors by the Bayelsa State government is a wasteful venture.
Olomu said: "There is no doubt, last month N14 billion came into the state through excess crude oil and federal allocation. Governor Sylva should tell us how he spent the money. The governors' coming has no benefit to the people, but an avenue to squander public funds."
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