The Bayelsa State government has threatened sue President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to court if it fails to deduct the 13 percent derivation component of the $1billion Excess Crude Account (ECA), which it plans to withdraw to fight insurgency.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in a statement on Saturday that the State government insists that the 13 percent derivation component of the money should be deducted and sent to the various oil producing states in the Federation as earlier demanded.
Iworiso-Markson quoted Governor Seriake Dickson as explaining that withdrawing the $1 billion without deducting and paying the 13 percent derivation to the oil-producing states would amount to arm twisting them to make double contributions to the security funds.
The governor said that wholesome withdrawal of the funds inclusive of the 13 percent derivation would mean that the oil producing states would be making double contributions because they would be contributing their allocations like all other states and then the 13 percent derivation constitutionally provided for, to address security and other pressing needs in the states.
Dickson had earlier demanded that the 13 percent derivation component of the funds be deducted and deployed in the oil-producing states to address the peculiar security challenges in the region.
The state government has also formally presented its position to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is also Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC).
The governor had earlier called the attention of the Vice President to the position of the State government on the proposed withdrawal of the ECA funds last December.
According to him, while Bayelsa is not opposed to the withdrawal of the funds to enhance national security, “the utilization of the funds involving the armed forces, intelligence services and police must cover every part of the country.”
The Commissioner said: “The Bayelsa State government will approach the court to enforce deduction of the 13 percent derivation component from the $1 billion ECA funds which the Federal government claims it plans to withdraw to tackle insecurity.
“We have held meetings with the Vice President, President Yemi Osinbajo, on this issue. We even backed it up with a formal letter to the President through the Vice President, which was taken to Abuja by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor and delivered by hand to the Vice President to underscore the importance we attach to the issue in question.
“Our position remains the same: while the state government is not opposing the planned withdrawal of the funds for security and indeed the general well-being of the society, it would be unfair and unjust to pull out the funds without releasing the 13 percent to the oil- producing states.
“An arrangement that compels a group of states to contribute twice to the fund while their counterparts contribute only part of their statutory allocation cannot be said to be just. The constitution is clear on this and we shall approach the court to advocate our position.
“For the purpose of emphasis, Bayelsa has formally notified the Vice President who is Chairman of the National Economic Council on this matter.
“That Bayelsa is in support of the withdrawal of the funds to improve the capacity of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies to protect Nigeria and her citizens is not in doubt but we are insisting that the right thing must be done.”