By Precious Godswill
Nearly 25 years after the Federal Government of Nigeria commenced the implementation of the provisions of Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution with the monthly release of 13% of the nation’s revenue as Derivation funds to state governors of oil producing state, oil producing Communities have been neglected and denied the benefits of the funds.
Against the back drop of a recent publication by Niger Delta Today newspapers that revealed the humongous amount of money which successive Delta State governors and their administrations have received as 13% Derivation Funds from 2007 till date, the opposition party in the State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has raised concern over the fate of the neglected and abandoned oil producing Communities in the State.
This is coming in the heels of an ongoing agitation by a vociferous Niger Delta women’s group, 13% Derivation Fund Women who have written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly calling on the federal government henceforth cease payment of the 13% Derivation Fund to State governors.
In a statement released by the Delta State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Val Onojeghuo Esq, the party noted that the amount of money so far released to successive PDP-led administrations of former Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the incumbent, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori were so mind-boggling, saying that sadly however, this is not reflected in the transformation of the oil producing and impacted communities.
The party lamented that in spite of the degrading status of the environment in the oil producing Communities in Delta State occasioned by the backlash of the oil exploration and exploitation of oil companies operation, the governors continue to pillage the 13% Derivation Fund and misappropriating them as if it is their pocket money.
“Following the publication of a report by the Niger Delta Today newspapers that raised troubling fundamental questions of how successive Peoples Democratic Party PDP led administrations in the State since 2007 had short changed oil producing communities by denying them of their entitlements of billions of naira meant for development, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Delta State wishes to express its deep concern regarding the continuous criminal neglect of oil-producing communities by the State government.
“This mind boggling article written by Stephen K. Diesuruvwe, that made startling accusations against the administrations Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the present State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of denying oil producing communities of substantial parts of revenue generated from the 13% Derivation Fund totalling trillions of naira, has only served to confirm what every Deltan already knows of the State government’s conduct that has left these communities with little semblance of development.
“Like every Deltan committed to the progressive sustainable development of our dear State, we find this report which details the reckless financial mismanagement and, in most cases, out right pillaging of the vast resources generated from oil revenues by the State government spanning a period over 17 years, not only highly disturbing as a bitter pill forced down the throats of Deltans, but more instructive for bringing into public focus the non-existent state of development of oil producing communities, particularly in the light of recent criminal investigations of the immediate past governor of the State Dr Ifeanyi Okowa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of mismanagement of 3.1 trillion”, the party noted.
Emphasizing on the importance of the oil producing Communities and the urgent need to address its developmental issue, the APC stated that although the communities are the main sources of Delta State economy, there is nothing to show in terms of infrastructure, and even capital development.
“Generally, oil-producing communities have been the backbone of Delta State’s economy, contributing significantly to its revenue. However, the benefits of this wealth have not translated into impactful development of any kind, not just for the State, but for the people of these communities. Basic infrastructure, healthcare facilities, quality education, and job opportunities continue to elude these communities, leaving them in a state of abject poverty, under-development and disenfranchisement.
“Unfortunately, even with the enormous financial resources of over 300 billion reportedly received from the State government as allocations for several years, DESOPADEC has shown an alarming lack of accountability, transparency and effective application of these funds for meaningful development. The people of Delta State are rightly frustrated by the growing disparity between the funds allocated to the Commission and the actual impact seen on the ground, which calls for an urgent need for a comprehensive audit of its activities to determine how these funds have been spent and why oil-producing communities continue to suffer from utter neglect and underdevelopment.
“While the overwhelming expectations from the people of Delta State, especially of oil-producing communities, is that the funds from the 13% Derivation would be used to address long-standing developmental challenges, enhance the welfare of citizens, and improve living conditions, however, the reality on the ground has been starkly different as these communities remain largely underdeveloped, grappling with poor infrastructure, lack of basic amenities, and inadequate social services to sustain acceptable standards of living conditions, no thanks to the actions of the State government paying little or no regard to their development”, the party observed.
The party tasked Deltans to hold the Delta State government to account for the humongous revenue acceptable to the State monthly, adding that it is disgraceful that after more than a decade of maintaining the first position as the highest earner from FAAC, it is still rated as one of the worst developed states in the country.
“As we move forward, it is imperative that we hold the State government accountable for the mismanagement of funds and the abandonment of the very communities that generates the revenues sustaining the economy of the State. It is disgraceful that with trillions of revenues realized from oil exploration over the years, Delta State is still struggling to complete the less than 200 km Ughelli/Asaba dual carriage 17 years after its commencement, while the Osubi/Abraka expressway project has long since been abandoned like so many other critical projects scattered all over the State”, party stated.
Meanwhile, a women group with members drawn from all the oil producing states of the country that goes by the name, 13% Derivation Women, has stepped up its agitation calling on President Tinubu to stop further disbursement of the 13% Derivation Fund to the State governors, rather the funds should be paid directly to the communities through special committees set up by the federal government.
The group which has Mrs. Nneka E. Obi as Chairperson and Dr. Hon. Izi Ann Ph.D as National Secretary, in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dated 15th December, 2024, called in him to “henceforth channel the release of the 13% Derivation Fund directly to the affected oil and gas impacted Communities as it was the case in the days of OMPADEC in the 80s.”
The women group with over forty (40) representatives from the oil producing Communities, argued that the Construction State governors of the affected Communities “that the Constitution did not expressly or impliedly provides that the 13% Derivation Fund be handed over to the Governors of the affected States for their own discretional disbursement as has been the practice since 1999.”
They further argued that the 13% Derivation is a product of the Exclusive Legislative list in the Constitution and therefore it is unconstitutional for the stae governors to superintend over the distribution to the detriment of the affected Communities.
The women group who did advertorials in national newspapers and electronic media, copied the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of the National Assembly, to do the needful.
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