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NEWSAPC Publicity Secretary Dare Diri To Publish Details Of Expending Of The N136.66B 13% Derivation RefundsPublished 6 hours ago on December 12, 2022By HTN
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…ask EFCC and other corruption federal agencies to investigate the expending of the funds.
The Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Comrade Preye Bagou has challenged Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State to publish details of expenditure of the N136.66 billion 13 percent oil derivation refunds received from the Federal Government.
Recall that the Federal Government paid the sum of N625.43 billion as 13 percent derivation refunds to oil-producing States in the Niger Delta region such as; Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Imo, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Rivers and Cross-River States. The payment covered 13 percent derivation from excess crude account, Subsidy and Sure-P from 1999 to 2015.
Bagou in a statement sent to hotnews in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, stated the great need for the state government to publish details of expenditure of the funds in accordance with the transparency and accountability act, which is an obligatory responsibility of the state government to the people.
It is in the public interest as good governance demands to publish the details of expenditure of the funds because, the people have the right to know how the state funds were spent, which is part of the people’s legally enforceable human rights in accordance with the constitution of the country.
Bagou stated that the disclosure of the details of expenditure of the 13 percent derivation refunds would promote transparency and accountability of the government in the expenditure of public funds, which will build the people’s confidence on the government in management of public funds.
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee every citizen the right to information about the government in management of public funds, which includes the 13 percent derivation refunds.
The public interest in obtaining the information from the government on expenditure relating to the 13 percent oil derivation refunds outweighs any privacy, the public access to such details would serve as an important check on the activities of the government, which will prevent abuse of public trust.
“The constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for the people’s right to know details of expenditure of the public funds which includes the 13 percent derivation refunds. The citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency and accountability of the government which is necessary and important for the state’s democratic order.
From the records. The Bayelsa State Government received the sum of N92.2 billion as 13 percent derivation refunds on withdrawal from excess crude account.
The Bayelsa State Government also received the sum of N11.6 billion as 13 percent derivation refunds on deductions made by Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC).
The Bayelsa State Government further received the sum of N4.7 billion as 13 percent derivation refunds on withdrawal for Subsidy and Sure-P.
The Bayelsa State Government also received the sum of N28.16 billion as 13 percent derivation refunds to the eight Local Government Councils on withdrawals for Subsidy and Sure-P.
The Bayelsa State Government has received a total of N136.66 billion in 2021 and 2022, excluding the state’s share from the N9.2 billion shared in three instalments in April, August and November, 2022, as refunds on the 13 percent derivation exchange rate differential on withdrawal from the excess crude account
The State Government should provide and publish details of spending of the N136.66 billon 13 percent oil derivation refunds received from the Federal Government in 2021 and 2022, by transparently and accountably publishing the amount and locations of developmental projects executed extensively with the funds.
Bagou stated that the refusal of the state government to publish details of developmental projects with the cost of the projects in regards to the expending of the N136.66 billion 13 percent oil derivation refunds received from the federal government will only indicate that the funds were embezzled by the state government.
He urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly track and monitor the spendings of the state government, mostly the spendings of the 13 percent oil derivation refunds to the state.