Concerned Northern Leaders to FG: We Don't Want 13% of Our Solid Minerals, We Demand More Oil Money

In another twist to the debate over the current revenue allocation formula, northern leaders have rejected the move by the Federal Government to pay 13 per cent derivation funds to host states of solid minerals in the country.

Last month, speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and the Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, called for a review of the revenue allocation formula ‘to reflect current realities.’

The demand of the 19 northern governors, which was re-echoed by several leaders and groups in the region, stated that the current revenue allocation formula was unfair to northern states and that the oil-producing states that receive 13 per cent derivation funds were getting more money than they had the capacity to execute.

However, reacting to this recent move to placate the North, the Convener of the Coalition of Northern Leaders, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, described it as an abuse of the Constitution and an insult to the North.

Mohammed said what they were demanding was a total review of the revenue allocation law and not “the shortcut,” employed to appease the North.

“As far as we are concerned, the current revenue allocation formula in the Constitution is illegal and the FG does not have the right to alter it, without a proper constitutional amendment.

“So the 13 per cent derivation for solid-minerals producing states is illegal and an abuse of the constitution. If government thinks that the only way to appease political opponents is to abuse the constitution, then it is unfortunate.

“There is no shortcut to amending that law. As far as we are concerned the entire revenue allocation law must be quashed and new submissions made to the National Assembly,” he said.

Mohammed added that it was not proper for the government to approve 13 per cent derivation on solid minerals when actual mining and revenue generation had not started.

“It is not even sensible as an economic move. At the current level of exploitation, the solid minerals in the North are non-existent. You cannot give us 13 per cent derivation on something that does not exist. And if the government or anybody thinks he can appease the North by this kind of insult, then the person must be a fool or thinks we are fools,” he said.

But the Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr. Elias Mbam, reportedly said the 13 per cent derivation on solid minerals which will commence next month was constitutional.

“The payment is a constitutional matter, which states that derivation should not be less than 13 per cent and derivation is not limited to oil and gas. This also includes all other mineral resources.”

The most recent report of the Nigerian Geological Survey shows that Nigeria has over 40 solid mineral resources and they are mostly found in the North.

The list showed that Gold had been discovered in Kano, Kaduna, Edo, Kebbi, Kwara, Ogun, Osun, Zamfara states and the Federal Capital Territory; Tantalite in Bauchi, Ekiti, FCT, Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa, Osun, Oyo and Taraba states; while gemstones have been located in Bauchi, Borno, Cross River, Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Kwara, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara states.

However some solid minerals were found only in the North. They include Silver in Nasarawa State, Uranium in Jigawa State, Copper in Bauchi, Marl in Kano and Yobe states, Chromite in Zamfara, Trona in Gombe, Jigawa and Yobe states, Zinc in Kano and Plateau states, Magnesite in Adamawa state and Diatomite in Yobe State.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/concerned-northern-leaders-to-fg-we-don-t-want-13-of-our-solid-minerals-we-demand-more-oil-money

Hmmmmmm na wa o !!!!!!

See their yeye mouth . .

These men no get shame. Why don't they carry guns and go and rob the ND states since they won't grow brain and use their own resources. lazy f***ks.

This northerners are not telling themselves the truth muhehehehe lord have mercy i thought that northern nigeria feeds the whole nation? i dey laugh

Ndu_chucks say something nah.

jmaine: See their yeye mouth . .

they are parasites.

There are a bunch of lazy people up in their so called core north.parasites.They are not ready to mine their so called solid minerals because of a truth,some of those minerals dont really exist in nigeria at all or are not available in commercial quantity.Most of northern claims to solid minerals are just political.They claim that they feed the nation when we all know that they are actually being fed by benue,plateau,nasarawa,southern kaduna,taraba.states like bauchi,yobe,gombe,kano,katsina can only boast of onions,tomato,millet,cow.The east can do without these parasites,the few foodstuff and cows they produce can be imported from cameroon.

Ogbonaikenna: Ndu_chucks say something nah.

It appears that you are not sophisticated enough to decipher what's going on. No one can reject the royalties on solid minerals which the government has already announced will be paid starting immediately.

There is no intention of letting anything go until the current derivation formula is rendered unconstitutional and revenue allocation is made fair and just. olodo

^^^ you know the truth. Your people are too selfish, lazy and parasitic in nature.

Abi o!
Demand your right my dear Northern brothers and sisters!

An extreme form of parasitism

This is what happens when Southern Nigeria ALWAYS accuses Northern Nigeria as "a parasite". Well, now they are acting it out and what else would you say now that they haven't heard before? They want more oil money while their own resources lie fallow and what will the useless president do? Nada! Zip! Zero! He go no sense! Tribalists will abuse other Nigerians but see who's still smiling to the bank for "almost" free?