Enang: Niger Delta should only be given the normal federal allocation
Sen Ita Enang has accused Niger Delta governors of bringing affliction to their communities by their frivolous spending.
When receiving members of the Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSCON), in his office on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta made some recommendations as he called for an end to the transfer of 13% derivations to State governors.
Enang had observed that governors of the Niger Delta routinely spent the funds on private jets and luxurious cars.
He mentioned that the diversion of the funds has led to a widespread vandalization in oil infrastructure. At the same time, he reiterated the purpose of the funds: 13% derivation is given as compensation to mineral resources producing states.
He added that states would now receive the normal federal allocation while the 13% will be applied directly to oil-producing communities.
Enang added that since the governors had not utilised the funds judiciously, then it is time to obey the provisions in the constitution and “cause that these monies be used for the development of oil and gas producing communities directly for their development so that this affliction would be arrested.
“It will be inappropriate for the state governors to take the 13 percent derivation money and apply it only for either building new governor’s lodge, buying private aircraft, increasing the number of vehicles in their convoys or doing any other thing, which are sometimes obscene, making the oil-producing communities angry and forcing them to disrupt crude oil and gas production,” he said.
