From Isaac Job, Uyo
Former Senate chief whip Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien has renewed his campaign to increase the sharing formula from oil revenue from the present 13 per cent to 25 per cent for oil-producing states.
Ibok Essien also faulted former President Obasanjo, who recently admitted that the oil-producing states have not received a fair deal, saying the former president had earlier insisted on 13 per cent when he was in office.
He said Obasanjo also suggested that the current 13 per cent of oil revenue received by oil-producing states should form the basis for further negotiations.
Ibok Essien, who represented Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial district in the Senate during Obasanjo’s administration, while speaking on an Arise TV programme monitored in Uyo, expressed surprise at the former president’s new position, recalling that he (Ibok Essien) had fought for a higher derivation percentage for oil-producing states but Obasanjo rebuffed him instead of addressing the issue when the former president had the opportunity to do so.
Ibok Essien, who is also the former national chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), recalled that Obasanjo had vehemently opposed an increase in derivation and resisted the payment of the onshore-offshore oil dichotomy until pressure was brought to bear on his administration.
“I participated in the Political Reform Conference convened by Obasanjo. Niger Delta delegates had demanded a 25 per cent derivation allocation but the conference recommended 17 per cent.”
“The recommendation was not implemented, despite the region’s persistent demand for a fairer share of revenue from its natural resources.”
“I am surprised by Obasanjo’s recent position on the matter today coming nearly 19 years after he left office.”
“Though I welcome the former president’s remarks, I question whether the change of position was sincere. Maybe Obasanjo might have come to recognise the injustice he had earlier failed to address.”
Ibok Essien, who is also the founder of Ritman University in Akwa Ibom State, recalled that efforts were made during his service at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to increase the derivation percentage from 13 per cent to 15 per cent but failed due to politically motivated opposition.
He urged the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review the revenue allocation formula and recommended an increase to 25 per cent.
Ibok Essien argued that the environmental pollution, ecological damage and devastation suffered by oil-producing communities require substantially greater resources to address them.
“The suffering in the Niger Delta region is too much. Funds accrued to the region are inadequate to tackle the scale of environmental damage and hardship experienced by the people.”
“Increasing derivation would benefit other resource-producing areas of Nigeria, not just oil-producing states.”
“There are gold deposits in Zamfara, feldspar in Kogi, premium limestone deposits in Ogun, and other mineral resources across the country. The principle of derivation applies to natural resources generally.”
“I call on RMAFC, the National Assembly and other relevant authorities to support an increase to 25 per cent.”
“There is need for resource-producing communities across Nigeria to receive a fairer share of the wealth generated from their land.”
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