WORKSHOP D- INEQUITABLE RESOURCE SHARING
Left: Attendees showing their endorsement of the recommendations; This page: Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, MHR, speaking in his role as Discussion Leader.
and publicly available information should be pre-conditions for ensuring that revenue generated from the exploitation of natural resources benefits all citizens.
In concluding, he stressed that Parliaments ensure that government and Extractive Industries are accountable and transparent. Questions and statements from the workshop attendees centred on the development of legislation that would ensure the rights of all people in a society to have equal access to natural resources and draw benefit from its exploitation. There was also strong support for nations to develop a culture of total transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. The view was expressed that developed nations should assist developing nations with technology transfer and with selecting appropriate financial frameworks for the exploitation of natural resources.
Recommendations from the Workshop
A broader definition of resources
Hon. S.K. Devamany, MLA, stated that all nations were confronted with a broad array of global developmental challenges such as: differing political ideologies, differing value systems, and the challenges presented by natural or man-made disasters. He expressed a broader definition of resources that extended beyond natural resources and included a nation’s human capital, ideas, best practices, etc.
It was within this broader definition of resources that the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary need to interpret the will of the people and transform these sentiments into a legislative, social and developmental framework. Global institutions, such as the World Bank, United Nations, and International Monetary Fund, have to ensure financial and legislative
reforms and facilitate resource- sharing expertise.
Mr Devamany presented the Malaysian experience as a model for transformation. This transformation was based on the national objectives of unity, stability and moderation, the distribution of wealth to restructure society and good governance. The Malaysian Development Agenda, which spanned five decades, hopes to transform the economy into a knowledge-based economy and relied on the private sector to drive and stimulate economic growth that was inclusive and sustainable. It also aims for greater integration of the Malaysian economy with the global economy.
Mr Devamany concluded that the Malaysian Development Agenda centres on transformation programmes for the government, economy, society, rural and urban
sectors, and political regime.
Accountability and transparency
Mr Axel Schimmelpfenning, IMF, said that management of natural resource revenue centres on macroeconomic stability, intergenerational fairness, appropriate state participation and effective spending.
He added that human capital is the current key driver of economic growth and thus widespread education has become the secret to growth.
Mr Schimmelpfenning described a number of fiscal regimes for Extractive Industries and stated that Parliament should be the ultimate oversight body with access to information on the extent and value of the nation’s natural resources. Furthermore, transparency across all sectors, an open budget process
Recommendation One: “The CPA should continue to build the capacity of Parliamentarians for effective and responsive representation to mitigate the effect of inequitable distribution of resources.”
Recommendation Two: “Natural resource extraction lies at the core of economic and social development, so Parliamentarians must address the critical issue of inequitable sharing of resource wealth.”
Recommendation Three: “‘People-centric’ must be the core of Parliamentarians who must lead the political will to transform the democratic fundamentals of their nations without fear or favour.” Recommendation Four:
“Ensure transparency to foster proper natural resource revenue use through clearly defined responsibilities, an open budget process, public availability of information and assurances of integrity.”
All recommendations from the Workshop were endorsed.
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