GIFT ROBERTS
The South-South Governors’ Forum has requested for an upward review of the provision of 2.5 per cent as host community trust fund in the Petroleum Industry Bill to 10 per cent in the best interest of oil communities and the nation.
This was contained in a statement by Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, issued at the end of the forum’s meeting at the Rivers State Government House on Monday night in Port Harcourt.
“We took up the issue of the Petroleum Industry Bill which is already before the House and having compared notes with ourselves, we are of the view that while we welcome the Host Community Trust Fund, we do believe that the 2.5 per cent that is appropriated in that bill for the purpose of host community fund is inadequate.
“We have discussed with our people and collectively as leaders of the people in our various States and as leaders standing in on behalf of our people, we urge that the National Assembly should increase the provision in the host community fund from 2.5 per cent to 10 per cent in the best interest of our communities, in the best interest of our nation,” Okowa said
The governors also maintained that the communities have a role to play in the surveillance of the nation’s oil facilities and pipeline network.
According to them, the communities are most likely going to be a watchdog on behalf of the states, oil companies and the Federal Government, if they feel satisfied with the provision of funds for them in the PIB.
“And the peaceful environment that would be seen in the various oil communities would enable us to have greater production and a seamless production in which we do not have any form disruption in our oil productions going into the future,” the forum said.
While speaking further, Okowa, expressed concern over the current running of NDDC, saying that the situation is not beneficial for the people of the Niger Delta due to the fact that the commission has experienced an Interim Caretaker Committee for over a year and now an interim administrator.
He said that there should be an opportunity for all states to be represented in the board of the NDDC.
“So, it means that the NDDC is actually run in such a manner that it is actually not truly beneficial to our people because there is no stakeholders input in the running of the affairs of the commission.
“We do know that there is a forensic audit taking place and if that reason the board has not been constituted, our advice is that monies being sent to the NDDC should be put in an escrow account until a board is constituted and then proper processes are followed in the expenditure of the money in a such a way it will be visibly accountable in the best interest of the peoples of the Niger Delta,” he stated.