Posted by By Gbenga Olarinoye on
RENOWNED economist, Prof. Sam Aluko, has asked the Federal Government to grant 100 per cent control of onshore resources to the oil-producing states.
OSOGBO - RENOWNED economist, Prof. Sam Aluko, has asked the Federal Government to grant 100 per cent control of onshore resources to the oil-producing states.
Feilding questions from newsmen shortly after delivering a keynote address on "Corruption and Development in Nigeria" organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife, Professor Aluko said the government should grant the concession if it would serve as paliative measure to the oil-producing states.
He, however, warned that the oil-producing states should be prepared to maintain the refineries, pipelines, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depots and pay taxes to the purse of the Federal Government.
His words: 'Off-shore does not belong to them. It is not part of their territory. Let them control oil in their territory, but they should be prepared to pay taxes to the Federal Government.
'If I were Mr. President, I would grant them 100 per cent control of onshore resources, but they should also be prepared to maintain the refineries, NNPC, pipelines and should be ready to pay taxes to the Federal Government purse," he added.
On the issue of corruption in the country, Aluko disagreed with another speaker on the occasion, Retired Major General Ishola Williams, on what constitutes corruption in the country.
While Prof Aluko posited that corruption can either be productive or unproductive, General Williams stressed that there was no form of corruption that was productive.
Both spoke on the theme: 'National Conference on Corruption and Development in Nigeria".
According to Prof. Aluko, corruption, whether as gift or as bribe can be productively invested to promote economic development.
He, however, said that the current battle against corruption by the Federal Government may be lost without tackling poverty and hunger in the country.