Photo caption: From left: Governors Umo Bassey Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Prince Bassey Edet Otu (Cross River), and Rt. Hon. Sheriff
The South-South Governors’ Forum has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform bill while calling for an expansion of revenue sharing to include derivation from oil and gas.
Meeting in Yenagoa on Tuesday, the governors, under the leadership of newly-appointed chairman Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, discussed strategies to bolster unity and development across the region.
In a communiqué issued after the session, the forum commended President Tinubu for his role in facilitating Senator Godswill Akpabio’s emergence as Senate President. They further urged the federal government to revise the proposed VAT sharing framework to encompass resources critical to the region’s economy, such as oil and gas revenues.
The governors also emphasised the urgent need for a structured regional security network to address rising safety concerns. “A robust security framework will create a stable environment, essential for fostering economic growth and prosperity,” the communiqué noted.
