Non-Payment Of Statutory Derivation Funds: NAPPDRF Petitions Akwa Ibom Government

Governor Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom
Share this story.

From Mfon Ekefre, Uyo
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRF) has petitioned the Akwa Ibom State Government over the non-payment of statutory derivation funds to oil mineral producing local government areas of the state.

In a letter to the state government and signed by one of the group’s solicitors and legal practitioner, the group also demanded for the creation of the Akwa Ibom State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development commission (AKOMPADEC).

The NGO which is based in Eket federal constituency of the state quoted section 126 (6), (7) and (8) and section 1 (3) of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended said “in any case by the State Joint Local Government Account law 2009, the government of the State is enjoined and appropriate and allocate 15 per cent of the total revenue accruing to the State Government for projects in the local governments from where natural resources are derived.

“From Community reading of the above provisions the intent of the framers of the constitution in creating the State Joint Local Government Account was to transfer money from the State to the Local Government councils and not vice versa.

The solicitors on behalf of their clients and the marginalized oil communities of Akwa Ibom State said that “within 21 days, 15 percent of oil derivation revenue accruing to the state be henceforth paid directly to the nine oil-producing local government areas in proportion to their contribution to the derivation revenue.

“The backlog of arrears of derivation revenue be calculated and paid to the nine oil producing local government areas in proportion to their contribution.”

They added: “Just as it is done in Delta, Ondo Rivers, and other Niger Delta States, an AKOMPADEC be constituted at once and charge with the responsibility of administering the 15 percent derivation funds meant for the development of the local government areas.

They stressed also that in case of default by the government’s compliance, they shall instruct their clients to proceed to court against the state government to strike down the obnoxious State Joint Local Government Account Committee and for the enforcement of the requirement of the constitution and the law.

The chairman of the NGO recalled that the former Governor, Obong Victor Attah, reluctantly initiated the derivation funds project with a meager of N250 million per oil producing local government area.

“Since the tenure of the immediate past administration, the oil producing local governments have been short changed and marginalized,” they stressed.


Share this story.

Sponsored