13% Derivation: Wike's Revelation Sparks Reactions Among Southsouth Governors
AFNews Reporter
Nov 21, 2022
The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike's recent revelation has ignited reactions from many well-meaning Nigerians in the Niger Delta states.
READ ALSO: COVID 19 Numbers Keeps Increasing: 389 Nigeria Hits Highest Single Day Infection
Wike had on Friday last week revealed during the inauguration of the N17billion Port Harcourt Campus of Nigerian Law School that the major source of revenue for his numerous project in the state was as a result of Pressident Muhammadu's gesture.
READ ALSO: Commonwealth Games: Buhari To Host Team Nigeria To A Presidential Reception
Wike who also commissioned a flyover and the cancer centre last week disclosed that Buhari approved and paid the arrears owed to Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo and Akwa Ibom states.
He said: "Monies that were not paid to the Niger Delta states since 1999 mainly 13 per cent deductions, the President approved and paid all of us in Niger Delta states."
READ ALSO: "Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex Otti" - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
Wike repeated his comments at two other events afterwards.
READ ALSO: Garba Shehu: Accept Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Or They Go Back To Terrorism
This revelation has raised concerns with stakeholders probing how other of the state governors have been able to utilized their shares of the money.
READ ALSO: FEAR! NDDC contract beneficiaries to be published, as more names appear on Akpabio's list
The NATION reports that its correspondents had reached out to some state officials and various concerned groups on the issue to which the Delta Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the state had drawn only N30billion from its accrued share of N270billion from the 13 per cent derivation arrears.
Okowa said his administration earlier disclosed to Deltans the state's share of N270billion.
READ ALSO: Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
He said his administration opted to access its share through a bridge finance loan of N150billion from a bank.
READ ALSO: How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
Okowa, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Olisa Ifeajika, said the N150billion bridge finance loan was a discounting of receivables from the Federal Government for petroleum subsidy payments made without recourse to the 13 per cent derivation due to oil-producing states from 2010 to date.
READ ALSO: B-OOM: Why Women Follow Strange Men To Vacation Trips- Actress Ani Amatosero
He said the funds totalling N270.6billion ought to have been received long ago but because the Federal Government could not pay it in bulk, the oil-producing states agreed for some part of it to be paid within three years and the other within five years.
READ ALSO: Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
He said: "Okowa told Deltans that the Federal Government owed Delta arrears of 13 per cent, which amounted to N270 billion. Okowa did not hide the fact that the Federal Government promised to pay the arrears."
READ ALSO: Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
He said of the N150billion loan, only N30billion had been drawn by his administration.
READ ALSO: COVID 19 Numbers Keeps Increasing: 389 Nigeria Hits Highest Single Day Infection
Bayelsa stakeholders took to social media over the slow pace of development amidst huge resources.
READ ALSO: Commonwealth Games: Buhari To Host Team Nigeria To A Presidential Reception
A resident, Nimizuo Pereseigha, said: "So, the big question is, What happened to Bayelsa's share of the money paid by the Federal Government?"
Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ibiba, said: "The state will address the issue tomorrow (today). Kindly contact the Commissioner for Information."
READ ALSO: "Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex Otti" - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba, did not pick up calls or respond to messages sent to him.
READ ALSO: Garba Shehu: Accept Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Or They Go Back To Terrorism
A coalition, Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF), an umbrella body of over 40 active NGOs in the state, said it was expecting answers.
READ ALSO: FEAR! NDDC contract beneficiaries to be published, as more names appear on Akpabio's list
Its coordinator, Dauseye Torki, said: "We just wrote a letter to the Bayelsa State Government through the Ministry of Finance for the procurement plan on what they planned to do in 2022.
"That will help us to monitor the projects that are done in the state.
READ ALSO: Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
"We will also have the information on how much they are receiving every month and there will be a thorough analysis of what they have done."
READ ALSO: How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
Chairman of Phase 2 of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Imoh Okoko, urged the Federal Government to probe the usage of the funds, especially by Akwa Ibom.
READ ALSO: B-OOM: Why Women Follow Strange Men To Vacation Trips- Actress Ani Amatosero
He lamented the deplorable state of infrastructure and condition of living in oil-producing local government areas of Eket, Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Mbo, Ikot Abasi and Esit Eket.
READ ALSO: Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
He said: "The oil-bearing areas in the state lack basic infrastructure such access roads, internal roads, hospitals, and potable drinking water, among others.
READ ALSO: Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
"I want the Federal Government, civil society groups, traditional rulers, stakeholders and the ordinary people to ask Governor Udom Emmanuel what he has been using the derivation money for."
READ ALSO: COVID 19 Numbers Keeps Increasing: 389 Nigeria Hits Highest Single Day Infection
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) plan to use the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to compel the Obaseki administration to account for the money.
READ ALSO: Commonwealth Games: Buhari To Host Team Nigeria To A Presidential Reception
One of their leaders, Kola Edokpayi, said the residents would no longer keep quiet but would demand accountability from the governor.
The frontline rights activist said: "God bless Governor Wike for exposing the non-performing governors in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, who collected huge derivation funds and arrears, but without any project on the ground to justify the monies."
READ ALSO: "Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex Otti" - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
The Itsekiri Liberation Group (ILG) urged Governor Okowa to account for Delta state's share.
READ ALSO: Garba Shehu: Accept Repentant Boko Haram Fighters Or They Go Back To Terrorism
Its coordinator, Oris Mone, said the funds should reflect in massive developmental and infrastructural projects, as seen in Rivers.
READ ALSO: FEAR! NDDC contract beneficiaries to be published, as more names appear on Akpabio's list
"The only thing we can do is to call out our governor, Dr. Okowa. We are asking him: 'Where is our money?' Is he saving it? Has it been looted? Has it been diverted for other purposes?"
Related Stories
Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
"Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex Otti" - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
Why ICPC Is Prosecuting Mike Ozekhome Over a London Property Deal That Has Shaken Nigeria's Legal Circle | READ DETAILS
Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
""
— AFNews Reporter