**NIGER DELTA & FRAUD!** “Stop giving Niger Delta Govs our development money” – Oil producing communities tell FG Niger Delta Communities and their nine State governors may soon be at loggerhead over who to manage the 13 percent oil derivation fund always released by the federal government for the development of the areas. The oil producing communities are now agitating for the direct payment of the fund rather than paying through state governments who also set up an agency to be in charge of the funds. The Niger Delta people alleged that state governments have failed to properly utilise the fund met for the rapid transformation of the areas. According to them, the governments prefer to spend the fund on non-oil producing councils while majority of the money is also embezzled. They further alleged that the agencies set up by state governments were only acting as quick avenue for them to enrich themselves, while their people are yet to feel the impact of the resources explored from their lands. According to a communique issued and signed by its Chairman, Chief Adewale Omojuwa shortly after an oil producing communities’ stakeholders meeting at Okitipupa local government area of Ondo”they know their problems and believe they are the best to solve their problems by themselves not State governments”. The leaders said the degree of environmental degradation of the areas is unspeakable. While, urging the President to continue releasing the fund, the group advised him to set up a National Administrative Board for the receipt and management of the fund by the committee set up by the communities. The Communique reads, ” the people agreed to unanimously foster struggle of receiving and administering the 13 percent derivation fund. “That the forum lamented the gravity of environmental degradation, frustration, untold suffering and unimaginable poverty stricken state of the people through the avalanche of billions accrued to the state government via the 13 percent oil derivation fund. “The forum also lamented the ingenuity of government interest at catapulting the education pedigree of the youths in the mandate area of the oil and gas producing communities via scholarship and bursary. “The forum resolved that the diversion of the fund accrued to the oil and gas producing area to non oil producing area will no longer be tolerated as every available machinery or apparatus would be used to counter blast such diversion henceforth. “The Stakeholders called on the relevant agent or agencies especially, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to rescue the legitimate oil gas producing communities from underdevelopment by channeling our 13 percent oil derivation fund to us as against channeling it through the state governments. “We appreciated the magnanimity of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for the continued release of the fund and beckoning on him to listen to the cry of the people of the oil producing communities by setting up a National Administrative Board for the receipt and management of the fund and in return remit to state administrative committee which would be set up by the communities themselves for proper use of same to savage the people and the land”
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 14:50:12 +0000
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