Ijaw Chiefs demand direct payment of 13% derivation

By CHRIS OCHAYI, Abuja
The host communities of the core Ijaw oil producing areas of Egbema, Gbaramatu and Ogulagha kingdoms of Delta State have demanded that their share of 27 percent of the 13 per cent derivation fund accruing to the Delta state be paid directly to them.

In a letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan and endorsed by no fewer than 28 chiefs and representatives of the affected communities, that people demanded urgent intervention in order to avoid crisis that may lead to the closure of the flow stations in their kingdoms.

The people said their request is due to the fact that they no longer have faith in the Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission, DESOPADEC, which they claim, have been hijacked by politicians.

The group operating under the aegis of Ijaw Host Communities, emphasized that Section 162(2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, states that 13 per cent derivation fund is the first charge of the Federation Account.

According to them, “13 per cent derivation fund is not part of any consolidated revenue of state government; it is not part of any state allocation. 13 per cent derivation fund is a benchmark for revenue allocation for host communities in Nigeria. It is therefore illegal to allocate 13 per cent derivation fund through a third party to the host communities.