Former Governors of Delta and Edo States, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor have backed calls by the South South Governors for an upward review of the provision of 2.5 percent as Host Community Trust Fund in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to 10 percent in the best interest of oil communities and the nation.
TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Uduaghan and Osunbor made the call on Wednesday at the ongoing #TNGPIBConfab.
Uduaghan who is chairman of the ongoing #TNGPIBCOnfab while giving his opening address said: “It is not just about the percentages given to the states, it is about the percentage that gets to the communities themselves, that is why we suggested trust fund, that s the formula we proposed. I want to emphasise the 10% derivations for host communities, 2.5% is too small.
The future of Nigeria is gas, there is so much gas but all the issues surrounding gas should be dealt with by the PIB, especially as regards gas flaring. These challenge is cost by costing challenges; how do we get the best of gas utilisation, we must allow exploration of gas directly; the gas plant in Ogidigben that President Goodluck Jonathan pushed in his last stay in office has today been abandoned, others can be established across the Niger Delta region.
As leaders of the Niger Delta region we must get involved and encourage our lawmakers to pass the PIB bill, if it is done it will do more than economical good, it will also reduce crime in Nigeria as so many youths will be empowered.”
In his own contribution, Prof. Osunbor said: “It gives me much pleasure to speak at this online National Colloquium on the very important subject of the Petroleum Industry Bill 2020. As the title rightly indicates, there is a pervasive air of cautious optimism that at long last, we are close to the end of a long and tortuous journey spanning about 20 years in efforts to have the Bill passed into law by the National Assembly. This optimism is due, no doubt, to the enthusiasm being demonstrated and assurances given by the President of the Senate Dr. Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as well as the generality of members of the National Assembly. The title of this colloquium suggests with confidence that “finally” we are “getting it right and breaking the 20-year hiatus” in the sense that we are about to break the jinx. This may well be so. Nevertheless, it is appropriate to be mindful that some imperfections remain in the Bill which need to be smoothened and overcome as the Bill makes its progress through the National Assembly, particularly at the public hearings when all stakeholders, indeed, every Nigerian, will have a chance to contribute towards the eventual passage of a Petroleum Industry Act that will meet the test of time. I am grateful to the organisers of this programme for availing me of this opportunity to contribute my views on this historic piece of legislation of immense national importance. Much more, I commend them for organising this Colloquium as a contribution towards a deeper understanding and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)”.
In his own contribution, Prof. G.G. Darah, Professor of Literature in English at Delta State University (DELSU) and the Delta State chairman of an Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said the oil producing states will not shift stand on the 10% Host Community Trust Fund in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).