Apparently sensing the danger ahead, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has convened an emergency “general assembly” for Monday over a bill in the House of Representatives seeking to amend the Constitution to remove the 13 percent oil derivation formula being enjoyed by oil-producing states, especially in the South-South geopolitical zone.
The Bill has already unsettled the stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.
The bill currently awaiting second reading is being promoted by 59 members of the House from across the states in the North, including the leader of the Northern Caucus, Musa Sarkin-Adar.
The proposal seeks to delete Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which has to do with the management of the Federation Account.
PANDEF, in an open invitation issued on Friday by its National Chairman and former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Emmanuel Essien, invited governors of states in the Niger Delta and members of the National Assembly from the oil-rich Niger Delta region to the virtual meeting.
Govs of the South-south states
The invitation is titled, ‘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 President of INC, President Ben Okaba, had admonished the Federal government to allow the sleeping dog to lie, as the matter will not be treated with levity by Niger Deltans.