Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, July 05, 2021
LAGOS, Nigeria – Southern Governors Forum has rejected the 3 percent share of oil revenue to host communities of oil facilities(Pipelines, oil wells, etc) and 30 percent profiting sharing devoted for aggressive search for oil and gas in the dry North proposed in the Petroleum Industry Bill(PIB).The governors however favoured 5 percent initially proposed by the House of Representatives as revenue to be paid to host communities where oil facilities are domiciled.
The governors forum made their position known in a communiqué signed by Chairman of the forum, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu after a meeting of the forum in Lagos.
The forum commended the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB but rejected the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives.
The forum also rejected the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins and repudiated the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC).
The Forum disagrees with the proposal in the PIB Law that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.
The forum resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
The forum also repudiated the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on Federal High Courts.
The governors also repudiated removal of electronic transmission of election results from the amended Electoral Act. The governors said they repudiated those sections in the amended electoral act in order to consolidate democracy and strengthen the Electoral process. The governors re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
The Forum reiterated its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.
The forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commended security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty.
The forum re-emphasised the need for State Police and resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed.
The forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights and set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States.
The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the State.
