2nd August, 2016
However, some of the 2,073 respondents in a nationwide survey said that such provision should be stopped.
In Abuja, 18 of the 20 sampled respondents unanimously called for full account of the money provided as security vote, while two persons did not return their questionnaires.
While nine persons wanted the status quo to be maintained, eight people rejected it, while one person was undecided.
Similarly, 12 people advocated that it be expunged from the constitution, while six others said that it should not.
No fewer than 11 respondents said that between 10 and 20 per cent should be devoted to security vote.
Four people voted for between 30 and 40 per cent, while two others were undecided.
In the South-West, of the 600 questionnaires administered, 373 respondents, representing 62.2 per cent, expressed support for security vote while 210 people or 35 per cent, wanted it scrapped.
Also, 402 respondents, or 67 per cent said that governors should account for the money while 148 people or 24.6 per cent opposed it and the remaining were undecided.
Similarly, 282 people or 47 per cent in the North-East, said that governors should continue to enjoy security vote.
The survey showed that of the 600 questionnaires administered, 234 people or 39 per cent voted against it while 84 people or 14 per cent were undecided.
In the South-East, no fewer than 50 people of the sampled population agreed that the status quo should remain.
However, 43 respondents wanted it stopped and seven others who were undecided.
The survey further revealed that 42 respondents voted that security vote be expunged from the constitution, but 52 people voted for its retention with six declaring no comments.
In addition, 70 people voted that the governors should account for the security vote while 25 per cent said it should not be accounted for, with five undecided.
Another 54 respondents said between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the budgetary allocation should be reserved for security vote.
On the other hand, 19 people recommended between 30 per cent and 40 per cent and six others suggested above 40 per cent.
In the North-West, where only 273 respondents were sampled in Kano, Kebbi and Sokoto, 121 people, representing 44.32 per cent, supported governors receiving security vote.
The survey indicated that 108 people or 39.6 per cent of those sampled, said it should not be expunged while 170 others, representing 62.3 per cent, canvassed that it should accounted for.
In the North-Central zone, 99 per cent of those sampled, supported the retention of security vote, but suggested that governors should account for the money.
Also in the South-South, a majority of the respondents also said that status quo should be maintained.
However, they called for more transparency and accountability in the management of such money.
They also rejected the view that security vote should be expunged from the constitution.