Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
Chairman of the northern apex socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, Gabriel Aduku has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the %13 oil derivation revenue directly to the host communities.
Aduku told journalists in Abuja that most of the state governors were misappropriating the money released to them for the communities.
Aduku was an elected member of the Abacha’s Constitutional Conference between 1994 and 1995 and was given the opportunity of being the chairman of the Revenue Allocation committee.
He said, “So for this particular 13 percent revenue derivation formular, I will appeal to the president of the country to ensure that the governors have nothing to do with it,” Aduku said while urging Tinubu to reconsider the implementation and ensure that the host communities benefit directly.
“The implementation of these should be strictly put together. The governors will have nothing to do with the derivation of thirteen percent fund that is in the constitution, it’s for all the communities that are affected.”
He said derivation is good but implementation has been a problem. “Many of the governors thereafter saw money and they would look at what to do, they would prefer to do the things themselves rather than give it to the people that are affected for the purpose for which it is derived.
“So, that has been wrong, it became a major problem and one of the problems in Nigeria since the 13% derivation came into law during the administration of Obasanjo in particular.
“We have seen what some governors have done with it and it encourages them to aspire to become President of Nigeria since they have money now. They use money as a factor for democracy so unfortunately, it’s one of the evils that have eaten up this country.”