APPDIOGCOM group calls on Buhari to pay oil communities directly and not to the Governors in the Niger Delta

The Association for the Promotion of Peace and Development in Itsekiri Oil and Gas communities, APPDIOGCOM, an Itsekiri group has called on the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari pay the 13 derivation fund due to the Niger Delta region directly to oil and gas communities.

The group’s Leader, Princess Grace Fregene believes that direct payment to these communities would aid development to abandoned areas.

In a statement signed by Grace, she said “Only him that wears the shoes knows where pinches hence governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa state did not mince words as his call was for the 13% derivation to be paid to the host /oil-producing communities directly, not to the governor of the oil state.

The group made it clear that the 1999 constitution, section 162, subsection 2 states the 13% derivation should be given to the host communities directly not to any organ of government.”,

“Besides the law does not permit state government to legislate on the 13% derivation fund since it is the Exclusive list. So far the President Muhammadu Buhari has been operating within the radar of the constitution. Hence we the Association of the Promotion of Peace and Development in Itsekiri Oil and Gas communities, APPDIOGCOM, have no iota of doubt that he will correct this age-long anomaly by paying 13% derivation fund to the host communities directly”, it added.