Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has urged the Senate to review its budgeting procedures for easy implementation of federal projects in the country.
The governor made the appeal on Monday in Uyo at a dinner he organised for senators who are on a retreat in Uyo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the 2012 Senate Retreat is “National Assembly and National Security: Securing the Future for Development.”
Akpabio cited the case of his state which has been receiving 80 per cent for capital projects and 20 per cent for recurrent expenditure in the past five years.
He urged the senate not to duplicate projects across the country if the initial ones have not been implemented successfully.
The governor said that Akwa Ibom had utilised its resources judiciously and had also invested in human development.
“That is why you will not have youth restiveness in the state,” Akpabio said.
He said that the state had begun an agriculture programme called Integrated Farmers’ Scheme (IFS) for youths under which each beneficiary is given a grant of N500,000.
Akpabio said under another agriculture programme tagged ‘Women in Agriculture’; beneficiaries receive N250,000.
Akpabio requested the senate to increase oil derivation revenue to 20 per cent for more people in the state to benefit.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark said that the National Assembly would always budget more for capital projects than the recurrent expenditure.
Mark stated that one of the ways of enhancing development was for the legislators to embark on oversight functions which, according to him, many people do not understand.
“All we need in this country is national discipline; people in position should do what is expected of them.
“When it comes to development, we must go beyond party; we must operate as one united state.
“This senate will not sweep anything under the carpet, anything that will bring development,” Mark further stated.
He noted that if most governors had performed like Akpabio, violence could have reduced in Nigeria. (NAN)