BEVERLY HILLS, May 25, (THEWILL) – The immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday declared that the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference would address the socio-economic and security challenges plaguing the country.
He explained that the national conference was convoked by him in response to the yearnings of Nigerians, who felt that while the country was doing well in many areas, there were gray areas retarding national development that needed to be trashed.
Speaking during the Rivers State Golden Anniversary Lecture held at the Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Jonathan also threw his weight behind fiscal federation, saying it would fast-track development of the country.
His words, “Yes,  in many areas as a nation,  we are doing well. But,  there are still other areas that agitate the minds of our people. And as a government,  you need to address them.
“I remember in August,  2013,  Professor Ben. Nwabueze led The Patriots and met me,  and one of the issues they raised was the National Conference. Others schemed for other conferences,  but I insisted on the National Conference that would look at these gray areas that affect our people. Those areas that retard our development and finetune it for the good of our children and grandchildren.
“I always believe that when you are in government, when you are making laws or coming up with policies,  don’t consider your position  because that your position is very temporal.
“I am quite pleased with the outcome of the conference. There was nothing like voting. Every decision was by consensus. And I believe sincerely that if government is able to implement most of those recommendations, some of the things that agitate our mind today, some of the social issues we are having today, including security and otherwise, will be addressed”.
On the issue of fiscal federalism, the ex-president noted that if properly implemented in Nigeria, it will encourage every part of the country to generate revenue for the development of the nation. He pointed out that every part of Nigeria was viable and can be self-sustaining.
He stressed that most of the states in the Niger Delta have witnessed significant infrastructural development since the year 2000 when the National Assembly approved the implementation of the 13 per cent derivation.
Jonathan said result of the funds spent by the Federal Government on infrastructural development in Niger Delta could not match infrastructural milestones achieved by the respective states by virtue of 13 per cent derivation.
According to him, “I think that fiscal federalism, if properly done in a nation like Nigeria,  will encourage every part of this country to generate income. I believe every part of Nigeria is viable. Â
“The only thing is that in Nigeria, Â the local government chairman sits in the office, Â waits for allocation, distributes and goes asleep and waits for the next month.
“If we look at Federal Government supporting oil-producing areas,  if you really sit down and calculate,  a lot of funds have actually come into the Niger Delta area. But,  we don’t see corresponding infrastructural development.
“And when you compare the 13 percent derivation that just started in 1999 or 2000, that the National Assembly now approved, you see that the development that can be in Rivers,  Bayelsa,  Akwa Ibom,  Delta and other states,  is not compared to when it was issue of intervention agencies that were to manage funds.”
