Gladys Nweke
Civil Society Organisations have called on the Rivers State Government to set up an oil communities’ development commission, to address the issue of underdevelopment in oil producing communities in the state.
The State Chairman, Civil Society Organisations, Enefa Georgewill, in a communique read at the end of its meeting in Port Harcourt, said the call became necessary following untold hardship by oil-producing communities across the state.
Georgewill who stressed that oil producing communities suffer a lot of environmental degradation and air pollution wondered why Rivers State was yet to set up a development commission for her oil producing communities whereas such commission exists in Delta, Ondo and other states.
He stated that the Rivers state government should begin to take oil producing communities as special areas in its developmental plans.
According to him, “We are concerned that oil producing communities in Rivers State have little or nothing to show for the funds that are coming to Rivers State as a result of her oil and gas resources.
“Rivers State civil society organisations, therefore, demands that the Rivers State Government should set up oil producing communities development commission as required by law to manage 13 per cent derivation funds accrued to the state, to immediately commenced the development of oil producing communities in Rivers State”
The Civil society organisations also called on the National Assembly to make a law that will address the issues affecting the 13percent derivation funds for the oil-producing states.
“The National Assembly should make a law that will empower the Federal Government to pay 13 per cent derivation fund directly to the communities and managed by the community leaders rather than through the state government in order to fast track development.
“For example, we have DESOPADEC in Delta State, and other such commissions in Imo, Edo and Ondo states, and as such Rivers State should not be an exemption”
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