Bayelsa Oil Communities Demand Accountability For 13% Fund

Oil communities in Bayelsa under the auspices of Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) have alleged that they have been neglected in 13 percent derivation revenue accruing to the state.
In an open letter they issued on the matter to Governor Douye Diri, HOSTCOM alleged that the amount of money released to the state government for use to develop the oil communities has not been felt in the communities.
The letter, which was signed by Pastor Samson Dabbey, the Bayelsa State chapter of HOSTCOM, demanded that Governor Douye Diri should give an account of the funds received so far and how the money was expended.
Dabbey said the letter followed an expanded meeting attended by key oil and gas stakeholders, Bayelsa people, and Friends of the State. The meeting was also attended by members of the Elders’ Council of the Bayelsa chapter of HOSTCOM.
The letter said it was disappointing and regrettable that oil rich communities have continued to suffer neglect in Bayelsa in spite of efforts by HOSTCOM to table the matter in a dialogue with the state government.
The letter said in part: “We are aware that it was to compensate for such woes suffered by oil communities that justifies the oil derivation principle encapsulated by the Constitution.
“Section 162, Sub-Section (2) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that the 13 percent Derivation Fund is for the exclusive use of oil/gas producing Communities.
“This is as compensation for loss of fishing rights and productive farmlands as a result of oil and gas exploration and production activities.”
HOSTCOM alleged that it had been rebuffed by the governor’s aides, commissioners and leadership of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly who promised but failed to mediate.
Dabbey they resorted to writing the open letter following several unreplied letters to the governor.
“In line with the FOI Act, we demand a detailed account of how the 13 percent that had accrued to the states is spent, vis-a-vis its impact in the oil and gas producing communities in the state.
“We make bold to state that the misapplication of the 13 percent Derivation Fund that has accrued to the state from successive Administrations to date is unacceptable.
“The infrastructural development of the oil and gas producing communities are being arrested and the suffering of the people has continued to be unattended to, up till this moment,” HOSTCOM stated.
The group noted that the solution to the anomaly is the establishment of the Bayelsa State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (BASOPADEC).
According to HOSTCOM, establishment of BASOPADEC will halt misapplication of the fund and have the injustice corrected in line with Section 162, Sub-Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution.
The group informed the governor that they have officially complained in writing to President Bola Tinubu to withhold the monthly 13 percent derivation revenue from September.
The group urged Tinubu to withhold the derivation revenue pending the institutionalisation of the governance framework for judicious deployment of the funds.
“We are constrained to resorting to this constitutional and peaceful approach collectively and in good faith as an advocacy organization in furtherance of our Article of Faith.
“This is to pursue the course of the down-trodden Host Communities whose right to the 13 percent Derivation Fund has been denied them for so long in Bayelsa State.
“Leadership is a sacred trust and transparency, accountability and selflessness is the Hallmark which we seek in all our leaders in Bayelsa State,” HOSTCOM said.