02 August 2013, Benin – Oil producing communities in Edo State, have demanded for the direct control of proceeds from the 13 per cent derivation fund to them, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to direct the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, to discontinue forthwith, the payment of the fund to the state government.
In a letter to the President, leaders of the communities, urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the recently released report of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, and ensure that those found to have corruptly enriched themselves in the oil communities were brought to book.
The letter by Mrs. Nowan Uhunmwangho, Elder Peter Agbonkoko, Donyegha Ben, Mrs V. Potoki, Mr. Edwin Ikinbor, Pastor Reuben Milton, Pastor A. Imafidon, Brasana Ekomiyenyefa, Olu Oyeh, Segun Imafidon, Karaki Ebi, Victor Omoruyi, Jackson Ikinbor and Mrs. Queen Donyegha, noted that the Supreme Court had held that the 13 per cent derivation fund was not part of state consolidated revenue or that of the local government, adding that the last RMAFC also agreed with the above position that the fund was not part of the consolidated revenue of any tier of government.
– Emma Elebeke, Vanguard