Isoko youths want direct payment of oil derivation fund

YOUTHS of Isoko Ethnic Nationality in Delta State, under the aegis of Igbimo Vanguards, a militant arm of the Host Communities of Nigeria (HOSTCOM), where oil and gas is found in the Niger Delta, have called for the direct payment of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund to the host communities. The youths, drawn mainly from Isoko, Delta State, also called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the memo submitted by the leadership of the HOSTCOM to the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission. They urged the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to resubmit the document to the National Assembly for quick passage into law.The youths noted that revenue Acts spelt out that the first charge of the derivation fund should be paid to the states producing oil and gas.In a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by the leaders of the youths, Ogheneovo Akokotu and Simon Ude; chairman and secretary respectively, they said "there had been misuse of the application of the law and misuse of the fund over the years". "It is a common knowledge that the state governments through which the derivation money is paid, have not been releasing same to the affected communities. More so, there are no commensurate infrastructural developments in the affected communities, whose farm lands have been taken, devasted and polluted.' The group noted that, during the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration, he established the coastal states consultative forum, between the Federal Government, opinion leaders, the governors of the affected states and the leadership of the host oil communities.
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