Withdrawal of $1bn from ECA: Wike Urged FG to Oil Producing States 13% Derivation

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that oil producing states should be paid their  13 per cent derivation  of the $1billion withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government to fight insurgency. 

Speaking on Sunday at the Government House Port Harcourt  during the presentation of the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award 2017 to him by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, who represented him at the  event, Wike noted  that it is mandatory  for the constitutional procedure to be followed. 

The governor said he has been officially approached to lobby the Rivers State House of Assembly to approve the resolution mandating the withdrawal of the said funds.

He said while the State Government is not against the fight  against insurgency, all required constitutional procedures must be respected.

The governor said: "They have approached us to lobby for the passage of a resolution by the State House of Assembly approving the $1billion withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to fight insurgency. 

"The law is clear. Every proceed from oil , you must remove 13 per cent derivation  for oil producing states. We cannot  be stampeded into doing the wrong thing.  So, where is the 13 per cent derivation for oil producing states.  In fighting insurgency, you must respect the law".

He said all the negative actions against the Rivers State Government were targeted at denying the State the balance of the Paris Club Refund.

Wike also informed the Rivers State House of Assembly members of the refusal of the Federal Government to release budget support  fund to the State Government, when all other states have received the fund. 

"If you criticise the government, they deny the  State funds due to it. This is a government that claims that it is fighting corruption," he mocked the federal government.

He commended the Rivers State House of Assembly for their support, urging them to stand firm as the state approaches the political era.

The governor said  the numerous successes recorded by the state were due to the sacrifices of the people in the face of dwindling resources. 

Earlier, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani,  described the  Rivers State Governor as a leader with outstanding developmental qualities. 

He  said the imprints of the governor are found in all the local government areas of the state. He noted that the Leadership Newspaper Governor of the Year Award 2017 is a crown of all previous awards that the governor had received.