North Contributes Nothing To National Coffers –Dokpesi

After months of deliberations, heat­ed debates and disagreements, the National Conference came to a successful end on Thursday, August 14, as delegates agreed to a change in the draft constitution through a majority voice vote. In this interview, the founder and owner of media giant, Daar Com­munications, owners of Ray Power radio and African Independent Tevelevision, AIT, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, relives the experience at the confab, express­ing confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan will live up to the expectations of Nigerians on the implementation of recommendations contained in the draft constitution. Excerpts:

How would you describe your ex­perience at the confab?

I must say that the experience was quite rewarding. It provided the op­portunity to meet with old friends, col­leagues, and senior citizens who have played a very prominent role in the af­fairs of this country. The simple oppor­tunity to be able to work closely goes a long way to really show that there is quite a lot of hope for this country.

The issue of derivation almost thwarted the whole process like the previous National Political Confer­ence organized by former President Olusegun Obasanjo did. How did you finally resolve the matter?

Let me say that the conference in its wisdom had accepted fiscal federalism and also agreed that Nigeria shall be a federation in which the federating units will contribute to the sustenance of the centre, which is a complete reversal of the unitary system we are currently run­ning whereby the centre collects rev­enue, and dispenses to the states.

This is why delegates from various zones were very much insistent on de­veloping other sources of revenue gen­eration to expand income base of the country as it were by putting focus and attention on development of mineral re­sources.

We must appreciate the fact that alter­native source of energy has been found. The green revolution has brought about alternative source of energy and power. And Nigeria cannot afford to exclusive­ly depend on crude oil.

What was very clear from the statis­tics available is that 72 percent of rev­enue we share at Federal Account Al­location Committee on monthly basis comes from oil producing states. The South-west comes next to them with almost 20 percent or thereabout. The South-east comes next with about eight percent.

The Northern parts don’t contribute a dime and the chunk of allocation goes to them. Recall that in the 1960 consti­tution, there was a provision that all mineral bearing states must retain 50 percent of revenue generation and the remaining 50 percent to the centre. Out of that 50 percent, Federal Government would take its share for administering the centre. But as it is today, only the oil producing states are bearing the whole burden of Nigeria. The Southern states are coming up with contribution in terms of payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) as well as solid mineral re­sources. But there is nothing coming from the North. This issue will be laid to rest if all mineral producing states also partake in revenue sharing by way of derivation. I remember that one of the delegates from the South-south pro­posed that we should give as much as 10 percent of the federation account to rapid development of all these mineral resources because our revenue genera­tion from oil is declining. But we finally came to the conclusion that five per­cent of federation account should be committed to the development of these solid mineral resources over a period of time. We did say very clearly that over a ten years period we should be in that position where it would be 50 per­cent derivation as it was envisaged in the 1963 constitution. At a transitional stage, we cannot start with 50 percent because the economy of most states will collapse.

So, the only fair and reasonable thing to do is to have a transitional provision and that transitional provision was the subject of debate at the conference.

The Northern delegates that was jointly led by Prof Jerry Gana and Alhaji Ibrahim Comasie (GCON) accepted that 18 percent should be that point. Dr Peter Odili was the one who suggested 18 percent after due consultation with Alhaji Adamu Waziri, leader of delega­tion from Borno, Muhammed Kumalia and Bashir Dalhatu. The Southern dele­gates and Northern delegates agreed on 18 percent. So, any attempt to say that there was an issue about 18 percent derivation smacks of dishonesty.

It was also agreed unanimously that the host communities of these min­eral resources should get 50 percent of whatever amount that is generated whether oil or solid mineral resources.

Apart from mineral development fund that was created, a national inter­vention fund was also created to deal with Boko Haram insurgency or any other type of conflicts.

It was national in character. The clear cut position was that five percent of federal account should be commit­ted to this, so that government can im­mediately deal with any such menace. In arriving at that, the current carnage in the Northeast was mentioned. Even the Council of State in its wisdom had already agreed that 32 billion naira should be set aside to deal with con­flicts.

We were acting not knowing what the Turaki committee had recommend­ed. But at the end of the day, the North­ern delegates decided to renege on the agreement that had been reached because they wanted North-east and North-central to be specifically men­tioned, and then any other part of Nige­ria. What we cannot run away from is the fact that a lot of states in the North-west had also experienced these Boko Haram attacks. But they wanted it to be specifically mentioned in the recom­mendation. If you say North-east and any other part of Nigeria, it also means the same thing. This was the point of disagreement.

But by and large, there was an agree­ment, there was an understanding. We all agreed that fiscal federalism should be the order of the day. We need to let the mineral bearing states know how much they would pay to the federation account.

At the present moment, there are lots of mineral resources being ex­tracted from the Northern parts of the country without paying any amount to the coffers of the Federal Government. We must make sure that all these are captured and form part of the monthly sharing. And the issue of Southwest,

particularly VAT in Lagos comes to mind here.

There is no point why revenue is generated through activities like VAT and a percent of it does not remain in Lagos. So, Lagos is right in demanding that whatever is applicable to all other mineral resources should also be appli­cable to VAT, so that those who bear the brunt can have some benefits of it.

Do you see the creation of addi­tional 18 states recommended by the conference coming into reality?

There is a tendency for anybody that is born in the Southwest to want to gravitate towards regionalism. I am an apostle of regional arrangement. I believe the number of states we have at the moment is quite unwieldy and therefore there is a need for us to ag­gregate together. But as far as I am con­cerned, that should come naturally, it should not be compelled by legislation. And the conference was very patriotic in dealing with the matter. Out of the states that were represented, 29 states wanted to retain their identity and keep their states as they are. No one state wanted to merge together. Even those that were together before didn’t want to go back to the old arrangement. Akwa Ibom didn’t want to go back to Cross River State. Bayelsa didn’t want to come back to Rivers State, Kebbi didn’t want to come back to Kaduna. Ebonyi didn’t want to come back to Enugu.

Everybody wanted to have his own state as federating unit. But the Con­ference agreed that any group of states that want to come together should be able to do so by a plebiscite of the peo­ple and the state Houses of Assembly. That is, states can merge and demerge. For the first time, the Conference came up with a proposal that states should have their own constitution.

Now, to go back to your question, definitely, the states recommended for creation will come into being. The con­ference had recommended the creation of those states and the people that are concerned will definitely be looking forward to the creation of those states. Part of the mandate the President gave to us is that we should look into the cause of conflicts around the country with a view to finding a lasting solution to it.

If you go to Borno State, you will see that the Chibok area where we have Boko Haram insurgency is Southern Borno. In Kaduna State, the area where you normally have crisis is Southern Kaduna. These are areas where the mi­norities are staying, and they are feeling that they are being oppressed. So, if we want this tension to be taken off, then it is better to allow them to determine their own future. However, federalism expects that you will be able to con­tribute to the centre, to be entitled to a share of the federation account. That is the essence of federalism. You must bring something to the table. The era of sharing under a federal system has come and gone.

Do you think the president has the political will to implement the recommendations of the confer­ence?

I believe the President is very sincere and honest.

I believe the President is desirous of change for Nigeria. The President is anxious to see a better and rewarding Nigeria for our future generation. His­tory will judge him. I believe he is going to work on the recommendations of the conference. I see a referendum coming.


http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=78519
http://www.nigerianews24.com/articles/national-conference-north-contributes-nothing-to-national-coffers-dokpesi-osun-defender

We know that already

Lie lie!
Who is then contributing bokoharam

I'm with dokpesi 100% on this

custadebayo: dats d fact nsha.northerners are lazy and mostly illiterates

Does the conribution of the south come from their "education,hardwork and enterprise"? Fact of the matter is there are two things
1. the Government acconts which comes mostly from oil in the south
2. GDP which is mostly agriculture and comes from the North.

The contribution of agriculture is by far greater than oil but it does not accrue to government. Therefore on an individual level the southerners contribute very little and only a tiny number work in the oil industry.

I think the real issue is how are state governments to fund themselves? this is a problem in the north and south and so we should not act as if every state has oil. Even those states that have oil like Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa how educated are they?

I do not see Ebonyi Abia Edo Ekiti Osun as more productive than Sokoto Nasarawa Benue Plateau and Kwara

The man may have over-exagerated the matter. I believe they contribute to the centre, though it may be little. But to say they contribute nothing is fallacy.

North need to explore those solid minerals, they have more than enough.

I support true federalism 100%, this feeding bottle approach have to stop.

Regionalism would have solved the issue of state creation. You may create as much as you could sustain in your region, it's your headache.

But to load the problem of 18 more states on federal allocation is bullshit.

Enough of this unproductivve feeding bottle system.

True Federalism is What We Want.


One of the reasons why.......


Jonathan Must Continue To Rule Till 2019.

Will it be possible for a state to change regional location?

I desperately want my benue state to get off from this northern regional arrangement

So wetin South dey contribute?

419
Ashawo for Italy
Drug trafficking
Baby selling
Ritual murders
. . . . And forged degrees.

Say oil dey for South, nor mean CONTRIBUTION!

Na una contribute am for GROUND or na mother nature contribute am?


DOKPEMUMU DOPESI!!!!!

[size=15pt]Now expect northerners to come here and say they exported Mango, millet and beans! They sure made billions of naira from these exports, didn't pay any taxes to the FG, but will post it anyway as their contribution to the federal purse !
Meanwhile, they will demand for a lion share of the federal purse which they did not contribute anything into!

Now Kwankwanso will unleash suicide bombers against Dokpesi's interest to intimidate him because he dared to speak the truth.
Yeye dey smell...[/size]

They contribute less than what other regions are contributing, I hate to say this but the north is just so underdeveloped and some of their indigenes don't even want to help themselves

How developed is Akwa Ibom?

custadebayo: dats d fact nsha.northerners are lazy and mostly illiterates

They are neither lazy nor illitrates!

they are educated in Koran and Arabic studies!
they are experts in Sharia!

They are working tirelessly, day and night to make sure that we all convert to Islam sooner or later!
Islam is the Arabian peoples culture and way of life sugar coated and violently exported to the whole world in the name of the Maker of the heavens and Earth"!

Ok

meforyou1: I'm with dokpesi 100% on this

The North have been perenially parasitic, thank God a Southerner (Goodluck Jonathan) is curtailing their excesses.

They contribute terrorism and religious violence.

iwonbaoko: Does the conribution of the south come from their "education,hardwork and enterprise"? Fact of the matter is there are two things
1. the Government acconts which comes mostly from oil in the south
2. GDP which is mostly agriculture and comes from the North.

The contribution of agriculture is by far greater than oil but it does not accrue to government. Therefore on an individual level the southerners contribute very little and only a tiny number work in the oil industry.

I think the real issue is how are state governments to fund themselves? this is a problem in the north and south and so we should not act as if every state has oil. Even those states that have oil like Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa how educated are they?

I do not see Ebonyi Abia Edo Ekiti Osun as more productive than Sokoto Nasarawa Benue Plateau and Kwara

abeg, don't link abia and ebonyi to that ur last analysis.
U were beginning to make sense when u said that some states are productive but the revenue from their produce doesn't go to FG, hence they don't acct to the FG.
That's where ebonyi with her agriculture falls in and more especially abia with her numerous industries fall in too.

The latter enriches the pockets of individuals and groups rather than FG . But would u rather say abia with her Aba is not productive? U dare not

Yoruba vs igbo coming up

CocoaMerchant: The man may have over-exagerated the matter. I believe they contribute to the centre, though it may be little. But to say they contribute nothing is fallacy.

North need to explore those solid minerals, they have more than enough.

I support true federalism 100%, this feeding bottle approach have to stop.

Regionalism would have solved the issue of state creation. You may create as much as you could sustain in your region, it's your headache.

But to load the problem of 18 more states on federal allocation is bullshit.

Enough of this unproductivve feeding bottle system.

True Federalism is What We Want.


One of the reasons why.......


Jonathan Must Continue To Rule Till 2019.

The man is absolutely right, north contribute nothing to the federal coffers. Their agriculture & little mining going they does not go past they various state government & individual pockets.

Kanwulia: So wetin South dey contribute?
419
Ashawo for Italy
Drug trafficking
Baby selling
Ritual murders
. . . . And forged degrees.
Say oil dey for South, nor mean CONTRIBUTION!
Una una contribute am or Na mother nature contribute am?
DOKPEMUMU DOPESI!!!!!

GBAM!!!!!

We are all lazy lots!!!!!

I see

ibedun:

GBAM!!!!!

We are all lazy lots!!!!!

I tell ya. . . .. .there is no lazy buffoon, like A EMPTY VESSEL from Southern Nigeria.
Dopesi is an epitome of such!

Kanwulia: So wetin South dey contribute?

419
Ashawo for Italy
Drug trafficking
Baby selling
Ritual murders
. . . . And forged degrees.

Say oil dey for South, nor mean CONTRIBUTION!

Una una contribute am or Na mother nature contribute am?


DOKPEMUMU DOPESI!!!!!

It must have'b hard to swallow the bitter truth

North is a parasite that must be expunged, for the rest of the country to progress

Kanwulia: So wetin South dey contribute?
419
Ashawo for Italy
Drug trafficking
Baby selling
Ritual murders
. . . . And forged degrees.
Say oil dey for South, nor mean CONTRIBUTION!
Una una contribute am or Na mother nature contribute am?
DOKPEMUMU DOPESI!!!!!

I stand by this statement so much! Enlightenment!!! and Perspective!!!

And I am a Yoruba to the core.

docsholz: Yoruba vs igbo coming up

No..It's north v rest of Nigeria, except some people want to do boy boy

Kanwulia: So wetin South dey contribute?

419
Ashawo for Italy
Drug trafficking
Baby selling
Ritual murders
. . . . And forged degrees.

Say oil dey for South, nor mean CONTRIBUTION!

Una una contribute am or Na mother nature contribute am?


DOKPEMUMU DOPESI!!!!!

Abomination!!
Who b dis donkeyriding carmelfvcker talking rubbish?
Since 1912 the North has been a parasite!! @amalgamation in 1914 the South budget surplus was used to balance the North deficit.
When it comes to productivity from d North d following come to mind:
Desertification and draught
Boko haram
Cholera, leprosy,meningitis, blindness, polio etc
Corruption with impunity
Religious intolerant
Bombing and burning of churches
Sharia by force
Oppression of minority middlebeltans
Laziness. Always desperate for oil money
Production Of beggars and almajiris
Easy way out even to become a professor in universities
Highest discrimination against southerners
Am sure the Devil has a throne in core North!!

Kanwulia:

I tell ya. . . .. .there is no lazy buffoon, like A EMPTY VESSEL from Southern Nigeria.
Dopesi is an epitome of such!

I wonder o, the oil produced from their land gave them the mouth to say all this rubbish

docsholz: Yoruba vs igbo coming up

Giant donkey

What was very clear from the statis­tics available is that 72 percent of rev­enue we share at Federal Account Al­location Committee on monthly basis comes from oil producing states. The South-west comes next to them with almost 20 percent or thereabout.

I thought they said SW ain't contributing sh1t to the country.

ChimaAdeoye: [size=15pt]Now expect northerners to come here and say they exported Mango, millet and beans! They sure made billions of naira from these exports, didn't pay any taxes to the FG, but will post it anyway as their contribution to the federal purse !
Meanwhile, they will demand for a lion share of the federal purse which they did not contribute anything into!

Now Kwankwanso will unleash suicide bombers against Dokpesi's interest to intimidate him because he dared to speak the truth.
Yeye dey smell...[/size]

See another #Dokpemumu Dopes chai i like this term "dokpemumu dopes"
The only reason i will not contribute to this thread or list what the north contributes to nigeria is because i see this thread as talks full of noise and fury, signifying nothing. Basically, the whole thread is dokpemumu dopes

CircleOfWilis: I wonder o, the oil produced from their land gave them the mouth to say all this rubbish

I am try hard to understand it.
I fail every single time!