The controversy surrounding the exclusion of payment of royalties to oil-producing communities in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is about to be resolved.
The original bill gave five per cent of the royalties to the community and 25 per cent to the states where the oil is produced.
It was, however, withdrawn and a second bill was introduced in which the host communities would not be entitled to any interest if passed.
This, along with the reported relocation of the Petroleum University from Effurun, Delta State, to Kaduna, had incurred the wrath of South-south governors who subsequently threatened to pull out of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s amnesty deal for Niger Delta militants.
It emerged yesterday that the Federal Government might have bowed to pressure by oil companies as well as leaders of the Niger Delta region to incorporate payment of royalties to the communities in the bill. . .

desertboom:

Carry go. I guess it will bring total peace and justice

aguiyi:

whatch out,b4 this bill is passed one person will betray another or step on somebody's toe and the issue will be postponed till further notice. ABI NO BI SO E DEY HAPPEN BEFORE?

Ibime:

To all those more interested in money for their local community, this is a partial success.

To all those interested in building a sustainable structure for Nigeria, with power devolvement to local people, this is a failure.

Lets see how it plays out.

nuzo:

More light on the emboldened before I label you a hypocrite of which you may have been.

Ibime:



It should be self-evident. The action does nothing to change the set-up of Government. Its the most FG could do without changing the status-quo. Its simply communities being allocated money from the National pie once again, and going by antecedents, one cannot be too sure how much money will trickle down to the common man.

It is time we start to think about setting up a constitution for the whole of Nigeria that will allow local people some form of power to make their own decisions, much like a federation or confederation. Apart from the oil communities, the rest of Nigeria will just stay waiting for their own slice of the remaining 70% as usual, providing no incentive for them to generate revenue (and jobs) for their people. The reverse should be the case, where FG gives no money to States (outside their remit of providing Federal roads, military, civil service etc), but States should pay tax to FG. That way, States must live or die by their financial actions, much like California is doing now, instead of waiting for their cut. This will promote better accountability as leaders have to answer to their people for the fiscal performance of their state, and perhaps will lead to a changed attitude toward corruption at State and Federal level. Until then, I just see this 25% ending up in the hands of Odili et al, whilst the 5% for the local communities ends up in the hands of the Local Government Chariman, and the rest 70% will end up in the hands of leaders of non-oil producing states. Nothing changes.

Bariga1:

But let it be on record that it was said : “another group of boys will immerge very shortly and they will demand their share of the oil money as MEND is doing to put down arms.

Even if the government pulls out and leave the oil wells that are in the area. I can tell you that the area will still not develop.

Until people start to give their chairmen, senators and governors public flogging and in some cases where it is really bad hang the bastard. Will things change in the Niger Delta.

Citizens in the Niger Delta area will continue to suffer and the suffering will get worse over the years to come. I see Somalia developing within that part of Nigeria.

People need to take their destiny in their hands and ask question. MEND is not fighting for anyone but the money they can get in their pocket and the politicians past and present sponsoring them (we know their names but know need to mention even past governors). Yes there are issues for the government to resolve, but we do not have a government in Nigeria so people need to do things themselves.

How much investment has MEND, the governor, commissioner for investment brought into the states in the area? What do they do with their allocation? PLEASE!!! PLEASE!!! SHINE YOUR EYE!!!!

It is easy to go to Abuja and demand Royalties, but what have you own people in government done for you?

First deal with your own people and then we will know that you are serious.

OBJ was the one who knew how to deal with you guys (even though I am not a fan of OBJ).

Government needs to develop the Niger Delta but not with a gun held to it head or having to first pay some hoodlum’s called MEND money.

Please put sentiments aside before replying me there is a problem within and not from the federal government. We agree the federal government has it own blames but the people you guys should be fighting should be MEND because they are having a free lunch off the back of law abiding citizens.

Ibime:



It should be self-evident. The action does nothing to change the set-up of Government. Its the most FG could do without changing the status-quo. Its simply communities being allocated money from the National pie once again, and going by antecedents, one cannot be too sure how much money will trickle down to the common man.

It is time we start to think about setting up a constitution for the whole of Nigeria that will allow local people some form of power to make their own decisions, much like a federation or confederation. Apart from the oil communities, the rest of Nigeria will just stay waiting for their own slice of the remaining 70% as usual, providing no incentive for them to generate revenue (and jobs) for their people. The reverse should be the case, where FG gives no money to States (outside their remit of providing Federal roads, military, civil service etc), but States should pay tax to FG. That way, States must live or die by their financial actions, much like California is doing now, instead of waiting for their cut. This will promote better accountability as leaders have to answer to their people for the fiscal performance of their state, and perhaps will lead to a changed attitude toward corruption at State and Federal level. Until then, I just see this 25% ending up in the hands of Odili et al, whilst the 5% for the local communities ends up in the hands of the Local Government Chariman, and the rest 70% will end up in the hands of leaders of non-oil producing states. Nothing changes.

puskin:

The Nigerian system, FG, House of Assembly, MEND and their cohorts, ND community leaders and the numerous oil companies in the ND and even the ND community.
WHO is actually deceiving WHOM.

SapeleGuy:

Beaf , i get your drift but how many more symposiums, jamborees commissions and conferences do we need on this matter. Why can't they just implement the recommendations that they already have?

naijaking1:

White wash, white wash, and still more white wash.
5%, 10%, 50%, 100%, or whatever it's going to be a cover up.
These people know the way it's done in TX, OK, LA and other places with oil, or valuable minerals.
Let the owner(s) of the land extract their God given resources, and pay applicable taxes.
That's the way it's done all over the World, why can't it be done in Nigeria?

$osisi:

Like Hausa and Yorubas will agree to this arrangement
Let's watch and see.