PANDEF TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING ON ALLEGED PLAN TO DELETE DERIVATION CLAUSE IN CONSTITUTION
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has invited governors of states in the Niger Delta and members of the National Assembly fro m the Niger Delta region to a virtual meeting, slated on Monday, tagged ‘Agenda: The Bill to Delete Subsection 2, Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) sponsored by 59 Northern Members of the House of Representatives .’
The open invitation was made by PANDEF:National Chairman and former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Emmanuel Essien on Friday. Other stakeholders expected to attend include the Director General of BRACED Commission (comprising the six South-South states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta, in an initiative to foster the integration, socio-economic and infrastructural development of the region), traditional rulers, presidents of ethnic organisations, leadership of oil and gas host communities, leaders of ethnic youth organisations, leaders of relevant CSOs, CBOs, women and youth groups in the region and other strategic stakeholders.
A controversial bill awaiting second reading in the House of Representatives seeks to amend the Constitution to remove the 13 per cent oil derivation formula being enjoyed by oil-producing states, especially in the South-South geopolitical zone. The bill was sponsored by 59 members of the House from across the states in the North.
The Section 162, sub-section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which PANDEF is raising apprehension about its proposed deletion reads ‘The President, upon the receipt of advice from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, shall table before the National Assembly proposals for revenue allocation from the Federation Account, and in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account, the allocation principles especially those of population, equality of States, internal revenue generation, land mass, terrain as well as population density;
Provided that the principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than thirteen per cent of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resources.’
Abolongo Correctional Facility, Oyo State, attacked: Inmates freed.
Attackers alleged to be unknown gunmen stormed the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Abolongo, Oyo State, facility at about 10pm on Friday, freeing inmates in the process.
The Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) and other top officers are assessing the situation and
senior officers of the service have been despatched to assess the level of damage.
The attackers were reported to have used grenades, and possibly other small arms, to gain access and set prisoners free.
The identity of the attackers and their motive are yet to be determined.
Bombed Abuja-Kaduna rail fixed; Re-opens Saturday.
Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, announced that train services would resume on the Abuja-Kaduna route on Saturday (today).
This follows completion of repairs on the damaged rail tracks by Nigerian engineers on Friday after it was bombed by yet to be known attackers earlier on Wednesday.
The minister said that while the government was working towards apprehending those behind the attack, the procurement of digital systems would be fast-tracked in order to enhance the security network on the railway.
FG MAY CONSIDER STATE PARDON FOR OGONI 9 – Femi Adesina
Following a visit to President Buhari by some leaders and people of Ogoni land at the presidential villa, Abuja, during which matters affecting Ogoni land were discussed including the cleaning of the environment as a result of pollution from oil production, in a statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, the president noted that despite the gravity of the circumstances, the federal government will consider the request to grant Ken Saro Wiwa and eight others state pardon.
The Ogoni 9 as they were famously known were executed by hanging in 1995 by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha for their environmental activism against the operation and practices of the Royal Dutch Shell oil company. This later led to allegations of their masterminding the murder of some Ogoni chiefs at a pro government meeting and subsequently tried by a special military tribunal and executed.
Asides Ken Saro-Wiwa, other Ogonis executed were Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
Mr. President gave assurance of government efforts towards cleaning up of Ogoni land, completion of segment of the East-West road traversing Ogoni Land, the passage of the Bill on the Federal University of Environmental Technology by the National Assembly, amongst others.