Group writes Tinubu, seeks executive order on 13% derivation fund
Naija News • 3d ago
**Derivation Fund Anomaly: Tinubu, Help Fix This Constitutional Mess**
In the Niger Delta, where our country's oil wealth is extracted, a long-standing anomaly has been festering. The Niger Delta Civil Society Forum, a group of concerned citizens from the South-South region, has sounded the alarm. In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, they've urged him to take decisive action to correct the unconstitutional handling of the 13% Derivation Fund.
For decades, oil-producing states have been controlling the fund, despite the Constitution explicitly stating that the Federal Government is the only authority with jurisdiction over matters on the Exclusive Legislative List. The fund, which is meant to benefit oil-producing communities, has become a source of contention and injustice.
The Constitution is clear: the derivation principle dictates that not less than 13% of the revenue from natural resources should go to the producing states. However, the current practice is a clear case of constitutional overreach, with state governors and assemblies usurping powers they don't have.
The forum has appealed to President Tinubu to issue an Executive Order to correct this anomaly. They're asking for the establishment of a 13% Derivation Fund Board in each oil- and gas-producing state and a Presidential Monitoring Committee to ensure transparency, accountability, and strict constitutional compliance.
This is not a partisan issue; it's a matter of upholding the Constitution and ensuring that the rule of law is respected. The continued unconstitutional handling of the Derivation Fund undermines the very foundations of our democracy and deprives host communities of the justice they're entitled to.
It's time for President Tinubu to take decisive action and rectify this constitutional mess. The Niger Delta Civil Society Forum's appeal is a call to action, and we hope that the President will respond positively to restore justice and fairness to the oil-producing communities of our country.