TheNewsGuru

Tag: Derivation

  • 13% derivation, part of Delta budget –Commissioner

    13% derivation, part of Delta budget –Commissioner

    Delta Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, says the state’s 13 per cent oil derivation fund remains an integral part of its budget.

    Aniagwu stated this while fielding questions at a news conference on Tuesday in Asaba.

    He said that it was not wrong for the Federal Government to ask for accountability but that particular states should not singled out on the account of 13 per cent derivation.

    According to Aniagwu, the state government is transparent in all its financial management as it deploys its funds into projects execution, salaries and human capital developments.

    “Today, everybody talk about 13 per cent derivation as if it is not backed up by law and as if other states are not given funds by way of federal allocation.

    “There is nothing wrong in asking for accountability, but the idea of singling out Niger Delta states as if they are the only states that funds are allocated to in this country is not acceptable.

    “We must ask the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Government to always explain what they use their resources to do.”

    He said that Nigerians had a right to demand accountability and probity from public officers.

    “In Delta, we have continued to explain what we have been doing with our resources.

    “The Koka Flyover and interchange is about to be completed,  Ughelli-Asaba Expressway is being constructed, the human capital development through different platforms that over 17,000 persons have benefited, all these are not voodoo economy.

    “In Delta, we do not owe workers salary for one day, it is not voodoo economy, but real money.

    “The 13 per cent is what we derive from our state, it is not a dash, it is part of our resources and not a windfall.

    “When we prepare our budget, we take cognisance of 13 per cent derivation and when presenting our budget, the derivation is represented as source of revenue, ” Aniagwu said.

    He added, “the 13 per cent derivation is given due to the peculiar nature of our region.

    “Some of you do know that to construct roads particularly in our coastal communities, one kilometer is costlier than as much as four kilometers in the upland.”

    He noted that the Niger Delta region  terrain was peculiar and difficult to develop in terms of roads, drainage and bridge construction when compared to other regions in the country.

    “So, enough of this blackmail about 13 per cent as if somebody has given us free money and that they want us to come and account for the free money.

    ”That money is budgeted for, it is a legitimate earnings  of the Niger Delta States and constitutionally guaranteed.

    “If anybody must seek accountability, let them  ask all the states what they do with their resources and not to single out 13 per cent,” Aniagwu said.

    Aniagwu who doubles as the Spokesman for Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, said his principal, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the blue print to lead the country to recovery if given the mandate in 2023.

    About, Chatham House, Aniagwu said, “we do not have any problems with people going to Chatham House.

    “Chatham House is a wonderful institution, we recognise that, they have played a great role in terms of the political development of our country.

    “If we are invited to Chatham House and we have the time, we will go to be able to also speak to the international community.

    “We are sure of the capacity of our candidates; Atiku or Ifeanyi  Okowa his running mate.”

    On the recently concluded 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) in Asaba, the commissioner conveyed the state government’s appreciation to  the journalists for articulate reportage while the event lasted.

  • How I spent 13% derivation refund – Gov Akeredolu

    How I spent 13% derivation refund – Gov Akeredolu

    Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has confirmed the receipt of 13 per cent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account in the last two years (2021-2022).

    A statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, explained that the refunds received by the state were expended on capital projects and payment of accumulated salary arrears.

    The statement also disassociated Governor Akeredolu from those alleged to have been stealing funds meant for the Local Governments from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    According to the statement, the refunds received from the Federal Government were judiciously expended on some key capital projects across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    “Some of the impactful projects undertaken and completed by this administration include the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the 32.6km Araromi-Alape road in Ilaje Local Government Area; 16.65km Ikaramu-Akunnu-chainnage 7-Oke Agbe Road in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area; 4.5km Agadagba Obon-New Ajapa Road in Ese-Odo Local Government Area; 3.0km Oke Igbo Township roads, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area, among others.

    “Recently, the Governor commenced the rehabilitation of over 35 kilometers network of roads in Akure, the state capital. The roads being rehabilitated are the existing ones built by past governments several years ago and which are already in bad shapes with potholes and failed sections. The 9.5km Emure- Iporo Road and rehabilitation of 15.2km Akure phase “D” road networks have all begun.

    “The 10km Okitipupa-Igbokoda virgin road which will be commissioned by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is another evidence of Governor Akeredolu’s commitment to infrastructural development. These intensive capital projects are financed from these refunds and Internally Generated Revenue.

    “The monthly FAAC receipts are devoted to the payment of salaries and pensions as agreed by Labour Leaders at the monthly meetings presided over by the Head of Service and Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC).

    “Despite Governor Akeredolu’s vow to always pay salaries and pensions as and when due, the financial crisis across the country occasioned by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic resulted in non-payment of salaries in full for some months. As at January 2022, Government was owing four months salary arrears as against seven months inherited.

    “Governor Akeredolu, having promised the civil servants in the state to prioritise payment of salaries, has continued to clear these backlogs of arrears. On three occasions this year, Government has paid double salaries in a month, thereby reducing the number of arrears. All salaries will be cleared before the year ends.

    “If the amount expended on these infrastructural projects and payment of salary arrears is juxtaposed with the refunds, it is crystal clear that the monies were not mismanaged in Ondo State.

    “The administration of Governor Akeredolu stands on the tripod of Transparency, Accountability and Integrity. We will continue to hoist the flag of transparency in governance while pursuing excellence in the journey to transform the state for the better,” the statement said.

    On the allegation that some Governors are stealing Local Government Funds, the statement noted that the Akeredolu administration has not touched funds meant for Local Governments since its inception.

    “As a matter of policy, monies meant for Local Governments are shared at their monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC). Mr Governor doesn’t touch local governments funds. The local government Chairmen can attest to the fact that they have total freedom in the management of their funds,” the statement added.

  • BREAKING: FG releases details of 13% derivation refund to Delta, Edo, Rivers, others

    BREAKING: FG releases details of 13% derivation refund to Delta, Edo, Rivers, others

    The federal government has released details of the 13% oil derivation funds refunded to States in the Niger Delta region of the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the details were released on Friday in a statement by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media & Publicity.

    According to the statement, nine oil-producing States received a total of N625.43 billion 13 percent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account in the last two years, 2021-2022.

    The States that received the refunds dating from 1999 to 2021 are Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.

    Data obtained from the Federation Account Department, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, show that a total of N477.2 billion was released to the nine states as refund of the 13 percent derivation fund on withdrawal from Excess Crude Account (ECA) without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, leaving an outstanding balance of N287.04 billion.

    The States also got N64.8 billion as refund of the 13 per cent derivation fund on deductions made by NNPC without payment of derivation to Oil Producing States from 1999 to December.

    The benefitting States still have an outstanding balance of N860.59 billion windfall from the refunds, which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to the figures, under the 13 per cent derivation fund on withdrawal from ECA without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, Abia State received N4.8 billion with outstanding sum of N2.8 billion, Akwa-Ibom received N128 billion with outstanding sum of N77 billion, Bayelsa with N92.2bn, leaving an outstanding of N55 billion.

    Cross River got a refund N1.3 billion with a balance N792 million, Delta State received N110 billion, leaving a balance of N66.2 billion, Edo State received N11.3billion, with a balance of N6.8billion, Imo State, N5.5 billion, with an outstanding sum of N3.3 billion, Ondo State, N19.4 billion with an outstanding sum of N11.7bn while Rivers State was paid 103.6 billion, with an outstanding balance of N62.3 billion.

    The States were paid in eight instalments between October 2, 2021 and January 11, 2022, while the ninth to twelfth instalments are still outstanding.

    On the 13 per cent derivation fund on deductions made by NNPC without payment of derivation, the nine oil producing States were paid in three instalments this year, with the remaining 17 instalments outstanding.

    Under this category, Abia State received N1.1 billion, Akwa-Ibom, N15 billion, Bayelsa, N11.6 billion, Cross River, N432 million, Delta State, N14.8 billion, Edo State, N2.2 billion, Imo State, N2.9, billion, Ondo State, N3.7 billion, and Rivers State, N12.8 billion.

    Meanwhile, the benefitting States shared N9.2billion in three instalments in April, August and November 2022 as refunds on the 13 per cent derivation exchange rate differential on withdrawal from the ECA.

    The three largest benefitting States were Akwa Ibom (N1.6billion), Delta State (N1.4billion) and Rivers State (N1.32billion).

    Similarly, all the nine states received N4.7 billion each, totalling N42.34 billion as refunds on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015. The refund, which is for all the states and local government councils, was paid on 10th November, 2022.

    The Federation Account also paid N3.52billion each as refund to local government councils on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015 on the same date in November.

    “President Buhari considers it a matter of honour and decency that debts owed to states or anyone for that matter be repaid, and in time without regards to their partisan political affiliations.

    “The President will continue to render equal service to all the states of the federation and an acknowledgment of this by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and the others is not out of place.

    “The refunds to the oil producing states will continue,” the statement reads.

  • Fact Check: Who between Gov Wike, S-South Govs lied on 13% derivation?

    Fact Check: Who between Gov Wike, S-South Govs lied on 13% derivation?

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State is perhaps the most talked about governor in Nigeria today. And it is neither by accident nor is it a coincidence. It is a carefully choreographed and well funded strategy to dominate the national political and media space. He sure knows how to force himself, his views on the public and be the dominant topic of discussion. Hardly a day passes without the garrulous and sometimes comic governor being featured on paid live national television stations, raking up one allegation, lambasting a known enemy, going on an ego trip or dancing to his favourite tune: as e day pain dem, e day sweet us.

    He has so positioned himself that when he speaks, the Peoples Democratic Party, its flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, and indeed the leadership of the PDP sneeze, and usually end up with a new cold. He is like a bull in a china shop or an inebriated  man throwing wild tantrums. While his group, the newly named Integrity Group, peopled with four other governors, and some senior party leaders, may have reasons to disagree with their party, the larger-than-life, self-promoting and whimsical self adulation of the Rivers State governor, is losing them public understanding and support.

    His enemies, and they are many, are tempted to describe him as displaying symptoms of  what Professor Sylvanus Ekwelie, Professor Emeritus of the Mass Communications Department of the University of Nigeria, UNN, describes as delusion of grandeur. Truth is, I am a bit worried about him, post office. After May 29th, 2023, with him out of office and no possible political appointment in view, how will he manage his mental health? He is used to ostentation, to grandeur, to being the centre of fawning adoration of the “anywhere belly face” political supporters, who of course would have shifted their perfidious sycophancy to the next occupier of Government House, Port Harcourt. When the calls stop jamming his phones, when he wakes up and spends the day alone in his expansive, luxurious mansion, when reality of after-office-life dawns, when to his shock, he discovers the Bible remains true: vanity of vanity, all is vanity! What would he do?

    But I like him. For his boldness, rascality and entertainment value. He is surely having a very sunny time of life. But like him, forget tomorrow is pregnant. Let tomorrow come. Let the next occupier of the governorship stool inherit the curse which has afflicted previous governors: Dr Peter Odili, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and now Nyesom Wike. Today is all that matters. And there is no way the story of the 2023 elections in Nigeria will be written, in future, without a generous paragraph, for ill or good, been devoted to the antics of Governor Wike. That is how it was for Governor Odili, and for Governor Amaechi. By the way, what do they give them to eat and to drink in that Rivers State Government House?

    Nevertheless, while tomorrow waits, Wike must have his day in the sun and ruffle as many feathers as he deems fit. Take for instance, his recent outing where he hosted President Muhammadu Buhari and poured on him some sweet, loving words, like a long lost darling. Forgotten are his recent angst against the President. He became for a moment one of the sycophants he so lambasted for daring to say some good things about the Buhari regime. He had said then:

    “When I hear people declaring for APC, saying they want to continue the good job of Mr President, the good job of people dying every day; the good job of Naira falling every day, I feel so ashamed. That we have gotten to the level where sycophancy, people will come and say, ‘I want to continue the good job of Buhari”. What is the good job of Buhari? Hunger is good job? or poverty is good job? insecurity is good job? or the economy falling is a good job? Such a shameful change. I can’t believe that somebody can come out in today’s Nigeria and  say ‘I want to continue where Mr Buhari has stopped’ May God forgive you. May God never allow that evil to continue.’”

    But in  upping the ante against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, he decided to pepper them by inviting President Buhari to commission some of his government’s projects. His past opinion of Buhari did not matter. He had a score to settle with his party and fellow Niger Delta governors, who instead of teaming up with him, chose to follow Atitku Abubakar; with the exception of Professor Benjamin Ayade of Cross River State, who has pitched his tent with the APC. He decided to hit them hard, below the belt, and put them in a difficult spot with their people.

    Playing to the gallery, Governor Wike announced that President Buhari has benevolently stretched out a generous hand of financial fellowship  to, and baptised, the Niger Delta states with about one trillion Naira of previously unpaid 13% derivation. This, he said, has been kept from the public. Niger Deltans  are not aware of the humongous funds which his fellow governors have collected and kept quiet about. Throwing a challenge to them, he listed a number of projects which he said he executed with the Buhari billion of Naira which fell on the lap of Rivers State. He then called on the people of the other states in the Niger Delta to ask their governors what they did with their own share.

    As expected, the newspapers and social media were awash with Wike lauding President Buhari for paying money owed to Niger Delta states since 1999’: “Let me say it for the first time. So many people asked me: ‘where is he getting this money’? Let me say it. I want, through the attorney-General of the Federation, to thank Mr President. Money that were not paid to the Niger Delta states since 1999 – the 13 percent deductions  – monies that were not paid. Mr President approved and paid all of us from the Niger Delta states. And for me, it would be unfair not to tell the public. It is not from FAAC money. It is the money that is supposed to be for Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Bayelsa states.

    “Yesterday, we commissioned the ninth flyover. In December, we will commission the tenth flyover. By February next year, we will commission the eleventh and twelfth flyovers. So i want to sincerely from the heart and on behalf of the government and people of the state, thank Mr President for this because as an opposition government, he could have said ‘don’t pay’. You can’t do anything.

    Since 1999, the money has not been paid. Did we do anything? So, I want to sincerely thank him.”

    He achieved his aim. The media lapped on it and there was, as one, a massive uproar in the states of the Niger Delta. Incredulous. Political opponents tagged on this and started a mass mobilisation to compel the governors to account for the humongous funds which Governor Wike said Buhari had generously given to each of the states.

    Edo state was one of the first to react to the heat. It quickly informed that the Edo state has received only N2.1 billion in three tranches of N700 million each, out of the N28 billion, due to the state. Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Joseph Eboigbe, at a press briefing said: “In respect to the 13 percent derivation refund currently making the waves, it was the states commissioners of finance in Nigeria under the aegis of FAAC, especially those from the oil producing states that spotted that there was an anomaly in respect of the federal government spending money from crude oil and gas sales and not taking out derivation, so the work was done and a total of about N1 trillion was established as due to the oil producing states.

    “It went through the whole process and the FEC approved it and a methodology for repayment, as approved by RMFAC, which they now agreed on what will be due to each state. Edo state share of that figure was N28 billion. It is a small figure out of the N1 trillion but that is what got to us. What was also approved was the way and manner this money will go to the states.

    “The net amount will come to each state over five years. Each year, you will have quarterly remittance which means four releases each year over five years. This disbursement was late this year but some states went to court to restrain the government so the releases now started in October which is just last month. By the time they started the releases, Edo state got N700 million per quarter and this is verifiable in our bank account.”

    Bayelsa state also came out to speak on the controversial payment. Governor Duoye Diri, in a statement by his CPs, Daniel Alabra, informed that: “For people who are talking about the 13 percent derivation funds due to the state, I want to to state that for one reason or the other, we were under-paid. When we discovered that, we followed due process from the state’s Executive Council to the state’s House of Assembly. Approvals were given and the funds were discounted.

    “I do not play politics with this kind of thing. Anybody who wants to see how we use our money, our monthly transparency briefing on our financial income and expenditures are available. One kilometre of road we build in Yenagoa is costlier than three or four kilometres of road built elsewhere.”

    But it was Delta State’s  Fidelis Tilije who is  State Commissioner for Finance who came out to give an elaborate explanation and situate the funds and how it will be disbursed to the states. Speaking on AriseTV, he noted that N240 billion is Delta state share of the fund. But he, however, revealed that only N14.7 billion had been received so far, with the rest spread for payment over the next four years plus.

    As it turned out, contrary to Governor Wike’s claim that the entire money had been paid to the states, the truth is, by the agreement reached, it will take a total of five years, spread over four quarters yearly for the entire fund to be disbursed to the states. What Governor Wike failed to say, and which Governor Diri of Bayelsa state alluded to, is that some of the states have gone ahead to borrow tens of billions against the expected disbursements. Which means that though the payment will come over 60 months, some of the governors have discounted the full or part of the amount and spent theirs. That is what Governor Diri described at discounting.

    VERDICT:  Did President Buhari gift the Niger Delta states one trillion Naira in one fell swoop? The answer is no. First, the payment has nothing to do with President Buhari personally. It was a long drawn out reconciliation, with some court cases in-between, which RMAFC compiled and sent to FEC for approval. Secondly, none of the states has been paid the full amount. Rather only three tranches out of 20 endings in four years plus time have been paid. Governor Wike was economical with the truth.

  • Delta State Govt denies wrong doing with 13% derivation funds

    Delta State Govt denies wrong doing with 13% derivation funds

    Officials of the Delta State Government have denied any wrongdoing in handling 13% derivation funds accrued to the State.

    On Monday, Delta Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije disclosed that the state’s total debt profile currently stands at N272 billion.

    Tilije, who disclosed this at a news conference in Asaba, said that the N240 billion refunds from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), was not a loan but the state’s share of 13 per cent crude oil derivation arrears from 2004 till date.

    The commissioner, in the company of Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, noted that the state government could offset its current debt if it discounted 100 per cent of its share of N240 billion refund approved by the Federal Government.

    “The total debt profile of Delta state as we speak is N272 billion out of this, N84 billion is due to contractors and  pension  arrears is about N27 billion.

    “The rest are the debt profile,  most of that were actually inherited by the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa led administration.

    “And in this past months, we have a total expected refund of N240 billion with respect to the 13 per cent oil derivation refunds to nine states that is ongoing.

    “We had initially wanted to phase out  many legacy projects that we wanted to complete, we approached the State House of Assembly and got approval to discount N150 billion which we pruned to N100 billion as bridging finance facility from the N240 billion.

    ”I did say recently that out of this N240  billion that is expected from FAAC receipts, Delta has received N14.7 billion in three quarterly instalments.

    “And out of this N100 billion bridging finance, we have accessed N30 billion from the commercial market,” Tilije said.

    He said that with the totality of the refunds expected from FAAC, the state could clean up the outstanding debt profile if it fully discounted the N240 billion.

    The commissioner explained that the governor, being a prudent manager of human and resources, felt that it would be necessary not to allow a repeat of the experience he had as new government in 2015.

    “At inception in 2015, Gov. Okowa’s  administration saw hell managing the lean resources available to the state as a new government.

    “This informed why all the state governments had to take a bailout fund from the Federal Government in 2015.

    “The truth is that if the state government has totally taken or fully discounted the N240 billion FAAC refund, the next successive government will fall back to the experience Gov. Okowa had in 2015.

    “So, unlike the other oil producing  states, who fully discounted their refunds, Okowa decided to be his brother’s keeper, take a percentage of the N240 billion and leave the rest for the incoming government to access over a period of four years.

    “Besides, if we had gone ahead to discount the N240 billion in full, we would have been able to clean up all our  outstanding debt,” the commissioner said.

    Tiliji noted that every government financed its budgets from FAAC receipts, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),  borrowings and sundry facilities and tasked the social media to always report facts.

    On his part, Ifeajika  said that the government was transparent and had nothing to hide.

    According to him, the state government is conscious of the rule of law which informed why it approached the State House of Assembly for approval to access the bridging finance facility from the commercial market.

    “In Delta, we are transparent, we have nothing to hide. The governor has assured that all the legacy projects will be completed before the end of his administration.”

  • The sex of your baby is in your hands – By Francis Ewherido

    The sex of your baby is in your hands – By Francis Ewherido

    By Francis Ewherido

    I was discussing with one of my younger friends, Emma. I told him that one of the major agreements intending couples must have is the number of children they want to have, all things being equal. He responded that he wanted two children and he prayed to God for a boy and a girl which he now has. I told him that I also prayed before every pregnancy of my children, but I never prayed for the sex of the children. Rather, I thanked God for giving me the privilege to determine the sex of the baby I want every time. He was curious. I told him that God has already given us the power and we (my wife and I) used the power (knowledge of reproduction in biology we all learnt in school) and it applied to determine the sex of the baby we wanted at all times. I went on to explain to him. When I was done, he said many young people are not aware and hope on luck to have a baby boy or girl. He begged me to share the knowledge. I told him I have done so in my book, Life Lessons from Mudipapa and on this column. He pleaded that I share it again. I, therefore, shelved the article for this week to share again. 

    NATURALLY preselecting the sex of your baby is no rocket science. So it is painful to see couples unfulfilled, sad or breed like rabbits because they are looking for either a son or daughter, son most of the time. Today, I am giving an abridged version of steps that you need to take to naturally preselect the sex of your baby with stunning accuracy.

    First, we must remember or know that the male sperms carry either X or Y chromosomes, while the female eggs carry only the X chromosomes. The egg carrying the X chromosome and the sperm carrying Y chromosome produce a male child, while the egg carrying the X chromosome and the sperm carrying X chromosome produce a female child. So a man determines the sex of a baby. 

    The sperm carrying the Y chromosome swims faster, but has a shorter lifespan while the sperm carrying the X chromosome is slower, but has a longer lifespan. If you want a male child, intercourse should take place just before or during ovulation. The faster sperms carrying the Y chromosome would get to the egg and fertilise it before the sperms with X chromosome make their slow and steady journey there. And only one sperm can fertilise an egg. If, however, intercourse takes three days (sometimes two days) or more before ovulation, the result will likely be a boy. This is because all the faster sperms carrying the Y chromosomes with short lifespan would have died leaving the egg for the slower sperms carrying the X chromosomes with longer lifespan to fertilise.

    The critical elements here are the ovulation, which occurs when an egg or ovum is released from the ovary and usually lasts for about 12 to 24 hours, and timing of intercourse. Ovulation normally occurs between the 12th to 14th day of a woman’s 28-day cycle, but like most human phenomena, there are no absolute certainties and it varies from one woman to another. Even within the same woman, there are variations. Many women find this unpredictability challenging. Such women can engage in charting, that is daily recording of changes in the mucus discharge from the vagina that is related to ovulation, to enhance predictability. 

    Please note that how long the sperm lives in the body of your wife after intercourse is determined by a number of factors. One, the vaginal environment is very important. If it is alkaline, the sperm carrying the Y chromosome can survive up to three days, while the sperm carrying the X chromosome can survive for five or six days. But if the vaginal environment is acidic, it is less habitable for the X and Y sperms and they die much earlier. That is why knowing the day of ovulation is very essential to pre-selection of the sex of your baby, because if you do, the vaginal environment, friendly or hostile, becomes inconsequential. 

    The other important factor is the health of the husband’s sperms. Studies have shown that the sperms of men decline both in quality and quantity from age 40. It is earlier for smokers. Lifestyle and the type of food you eat also influence the quantity and quality of sperms and ability to impregnate your wife. In fact, the egg does not accept every sperm that comes its way. It is very selective and attracted more to healthy sperms. This can be a challenge for men with weak sperms or low sperm count when they want to impregnate their wives, according to research findings.

    You also need some discipline and cooperation between spouses if you want to naturally pre-select the sex of your babies. For a start, pre-selection is easier when the woman is practising natural family planning as against the use of artificial contraceptives, because artificial contraceptives disrupt the cycle of women,  stopping ovulation or making ovulation more unpredictable, and you do need some level of predictability in the ovulation cycle to naturally preselect the sex of your babies

    In addition, the couple needs to stay off intercourse for at least five days before ovulation. This is to ensure that residue semen in the woman’s body from previous intercourse does not interfere with her vaginal discharge and create confusion.  There are a number of natural ways women know they are ovulating: the thick slimy vaginal discharge which is like phlegm (catarrh, as some refer to it), some women feel a sharp pain on the side or lower abdomen when the egg is released, heightened sense of smell, breast soreness or tenderness, increased sexual urge and change in body temperature..

    Just in case you are wondering why I write categorically on the efficacy of this method, I used it to preselect the sex of all my children – Two girls and three boys.

    DERIVATION FUND

    During the week some Niger Deltans were incensed when they learnt that part of the derivation funds withheld since 1999 have been released to our governors. Many of us never knew this. Specifically Delta got N142b, Akwa Ibom; N91b; Rivers, N83b; Bayelsa, N87b and Edo, N17b. These are humongous sums of money and they are special funds: DERIVATION. How much of these monies were devoted to oil producing communities for physical and human development? These communities bear the brunt of the effects of oil exploration. Our governors need to personally tell us what they did/or are doing with the money, not delegating the responsibility to a commissioner or government spokesman. Some state government officials are treating the matter with levity as if we have no right to ask. 

    I join my voice with other Niger Deltans that our governors should handle the matter with the seriousness it deserves by personally telling their citizens what they did with the money. The President gave the governors the money and they should talk to us directly. If they cannot, they and their parties do not deserve the people’s votes in 2023. Do not treat us with disdain. Without these communities these states will not be entitled to this fund. I am not talking about politics; it is about the people and humanity which this column represents.

  • Gov Okowa is an astute manager of resources – By Festus Okubor

    Gov Okowa is an astute manager of resources – By Festus Okubor

    By Dr Festus Goziem Okubor

    This is an election season and the moment for unscrupulous politicians to throw brickbats and engage in callous mudslinging to tarnish formidable honour and unassailable integrity that took years to build. Civilized and mature politics demands that decency should be the rule of the game.

    When politicians and public office holders go out of their way to concoct lies and distort facts in order to score cheap points and transient popularity then they are not only assailing the public good and public interest, but poisoning the watershed of the political ideal which derives from information and enlightenment.

    As we prepare and look forward with hope to the consolidation of our democratic experience with the general elections of 2023, some mischief makers who have seen clearly that their political aspirations have been rejected by the people have resorted to spinning and spewing lies of slanderous proportions into the public space.

    This intervention is a response to one of such deliberate lies. And there should be honour, integrity and dignity in politics. Men of honour, integrity and dignity do not lie. So, these characters that chanced on our political space lack these three elements which are desired in building stable societies “where peace and justice reign”.

    The latest preoccupation of disgruntled leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State is to peddle lies in order to discredit the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa and clothe him in the robe of a poor manager of resources who squandered allocations to Delta State under his watch.

    Those who know Governor Okowa will attest to his nobility of mind. Even those currently accusing him falsely know that Governor Okowa is a man of uncommon mettle whose sandals they are not worthy to undo in saner climes as they ought to be cooling of in jail for the many crimes they committed against the state from stealing from state treasury, extorting contractors and collecting money for ghost and unexecuted projects and for mace snatching.

    Certainly, public memory is not short and the internet never forgets. Those falsely accusing the highly respected Governor Okowa should google their names and that of the beloved Governor and they will see the infamous narratives around their names in contrasts to the nobility of spirit of the amiable Governor.

    The ongoing smear campaign was triggered off by the incoherent story by attention seeking Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that President Muhammadu Buhari released monies accruing from deductions from the 13% derivation funds and that the infrastructural achievements of his government was made possible by the money President Buhari paid.

    Well, nobody needs to be told that Wike has become a sore loser and a weeping baby. The questions people should ask Wike are : when was the money released? Why did he not tell Nigerians when the money was paid? Why is he just telling them now? Wike is an advocate of bad politics which is unhealthy for the polity.

    His new activism without definition, boundary or ideology is a product of the fact that he was beaten during the PDP presidential primaries and furthermore he lost woefully to the noble Governor Okowa of Delta State. Wike is fighting his homestead and people. He is bound to lose because no man ever wins against his people. The fact that none of the other five South-South governors associate with Wike points to the truth that he has been rejected at home.

    The rabidly desperate promoters of the Wike bad belle narrative are Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Adams Oshiomhole and their BANDits of political desperadoes wanting to push Delta to the EDGE of disaster. What the duo and their minions are pushing into the public space is the narrative that Governor Okowa squandered 250 billion naira accruing from the 13 % derivation fund released by President Buhari.

    In their unthinking nature they pointed at the flyovers built by Wike in Port-Harcourt, take note, in Port Harcourt and not any other part of Rivers State and asked Governor Okowa what he did with the money accruing to Delta State. Their query could be as a result of crass ignorance or deliberate mischief to mislead the public and score cheap points. These are certainly not the hallmarks of altruistic politicians or statesmen.

    Altruism is never desperate as the men have chosen to be. Governor Okowa remains an astute manager of men and resources. The fact that he does not mount the rooftop to announce with multiple megaphones the number of projects he has executed does not diminish his monumental and unsurpassed achievements as a Governor.

    The truth with Delta State is that about 340 billion naira is accruable to it, but it has not been earned. The refund they are talking about is 292 billion naira and the Federal Government promised to pay in sixty installments. This was why the State requested a drawdown of 150 billion naira and only 30 billion was recently drawn. So the talk about hefty sum of 250 billion being mismanaged by Governor Okowa is a concocted political lie.

    Only an ignorant or mischievous fellow will compare Delta State with Rivers State in terms of infrastructure development and spread. Rivers State is 55 years old, while Delta is just 31. It means that Rivers State ought to have more infrastructure. But let us compare. Delta State has about thirty-one urban centres, the highest in any state in Nigeria. Rivers State has only Port-Harcourt which is where all the flyovers Agege and Oshiomhole are drooling over are located. Whatever development going on in Bonny Island is by joint venture and Rivers Government refused to meet its obligation.

    Delta State government under Governor Okowa has constructed 1,905 kilometers of roads and 1, 035 kilometers of drains. Delta State is Nigeria’s frontrunner in human capital development, 14, 075 youth entrepreneurs have emerged, over 223, 000 employments created with about 1.3 million indirect jobs. Delta State is number one in contributory healthcare scheme with more than 1.2 million enrolled.

    The State has four universities and seven other tertiary institutions, the highest by any state in Nigeria. Roads have been built in the riverine communities for the first time and there are 16 bridges under constriction with 6 others completed. The bridges are ambitious and cost intensive projects that will link the riverine communities with the world.

    The list of projects executed by the Governor Okowa administration will show the even distribution across the length and breadth of the State. There is a deliberate integration of urban and rural communities so that all Deltans will feel a sense of belonging.

    Were Governor Okowa to concentrate all the State’s resources in developing only Asaba, then the city would have overtaken Dubai or New York in beauty. Governor Okowa is conscious of his place as Governor of all and not a sectional leader like the Orhomuru-Orogun Senator who took all the projects meant for the entire Urhobo nation of twenty-four clans to his miniature sub-community of Orhomuru-Orogun.

    Those calling out Governor Okowa should step out to be audited as public office holders. Senator Omo-Agege’s time as commissioner and secretary to state government was financially disastrous for the Delta State. His house became a central bank where cooks made away with Ghana-must-go bags of money. His Orogun people will not forget how he extorted contractors and collected money for forty-eight projects that he didn’t execute.

    There were monies for hundreds of projects across the state that he seized using the tenders’ board. He thinks the people have forgotten. Is this the man wanting to be governor? The mace incident and his recruitment as a servant of the caliphate with him a chief kneeling to thank Buhari remains repulsive to his people.

    As for Adams Oshiomhole, he left Edo State in massive debt and destroyed the entire fabric of government. Governor Obaseki is still working to fix the catastrophe that Oshiomhole turned Edo State into. How he ran down the APC and embarrassed the nation before he was disgraced out of office is still fresh in our memory. Are these the men who should call out Governor Okowa on account of probity? Not at all. They lack what it takes.

    The public, especially Deltans, should discountenance the ranting of Agege and Oshiomhole. They are raving in frustration as they are bound to have their day in the court of public morality.

  • Bayelsa confirms receipt of arrears of 13% oil derivation refunds from FG

    Bayelsa confirms receipt of arrears of 13% oil derivation refunds from FG

    Bayelsa government confirmed on Tuesday that it had been receiving refunds of arrears of 13 per cent oil derivation proceeds from the Federal Government.

    It did not state how much had been received, however.

    Tuesday’s confirmation by Bayelsa followed Rivers Gov. Nyesom Wike’s declaration and commendation for President Muhammadu Buhari for authorising the payment of the money that had been owed since 1999.

    At the weekend, Wike declared that Niger Delta states had been receiving the funds since 2019 and challenged governors in the region to account for the windfall.

    Reacting to Wike’s claim and challenge to the governors, Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa admitted that the state had been getting the funds and deploying same to capital projects.

    Diri said that the state discounted the funds.

    Diri’s reaction is contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabra.

    “For people who are talking about the 13 per cent derivation funds due to the state, I want to state that for one reason or the other, we were under-paid.

    “When we discovered that, we followed due process from the state’s Executive Council to the state’s House of Assembly.

    “Approvals were given and the funds were discounted.

    “I do not play politics with this kind of thing. Anybody who wants to see how we use our money, our monthly transparency briefing on our financial income and expenditure are available.

    “One kilometre of road we build in Yenagoa is costlier than three kilometres or four kilometres of road built elsewhere,’’ Diri said.

  • Anambra to start receiving 13% oil derivation from March

    Anambra to start receiving 13% oil derivation from March

    Gov. Willie Obiano says Anambra will begin to earn 13 per cent derivation in line with its status as an oil producing state from March.

    Obiano disclosed this at a parley with journalists in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area after a tour of the Awka International Convention Centre and Anambra Cargo and passenger airport on Saturday.

    He said he was notified by the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Pricing and Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) who had confirmed lifting of crude oil in commercial quantity in Anambra.

    He said Anambra had 15 oil wells with ENIYE 10940 Oil field operated by SEEPCO fully operational and wholly owned by the state.

    Obiano also said the rice production of the state had hit 530,000 metric tonnes yearly from the 85,000 metric tonnes capacity of 2014.

    He said the revolution his administration brought into the agricultural sector made the state become not only self-sufficient in production but a net exporter of the commodity.

    He said the state demand was just about 330,000 metric tonnes of the total output noting that a lot of businesses had been invested in the sector and that many family economies had been transformed by the boom.

    He said the Anambra Airport which was fully operational would boost trade and commerce as well as export capacities of the state.

    Obiano said the 10,000 capacity International Convention Centre would be inaugurated in March 9.

    He noted that he would not be going for any political office but announced that his wife, Mrs Ebelechuwku Obiano, would be contesting for Anambra North Senatorial District.

  • Niger Delta critical stakeholders demand immediate increase of 13% derivation to 50%

    Niger Delta critical stakeholders demand immediate increase of 13% derivation to 50%

    …condemn proposed Bill by 59 northern Reps seeking alteration to derivation principle

    …describe lawmakers as terrorists

    …warns FG that region is ready to mobilize resistance against attempt to alter Section 162 S2 SS2

    Critical stakeholders in oil producing states in Nigeria emerged from a virtual meeting last Monday demanding for an increase from 13percent derivation to 50percent.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this was contained in a communique issued by major stakeholders of the Niger Delta under the auspices of PANDEF.

    The Stakeholders apparently peeved over move by 59 northern lawmakers in the House of Representatives to alter Section 2 SS 2 of the portion harbouring derivation principle in the 1999 constitution as amended warned that any attempt to alter it will be met by resistance.

    In the communique issued and signed by the stakeholders, a seven-point demand was made which includes the following:

    “Unequivocally and in full resolution, condemns the obnoxious and Satanic Bill intended to delete Subsection 2, Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and describes the Bill as a “Legislative Coup” against Oil and Gas Producing States and Regions of the Country.

    “Warns that the Niger Delta people are ready and mobilized to dispense full resistance against this wicked machination and any future attempt to further Economically Emasculate the Region and its people. We will resist this Satanic and Senseless Coup with every fibre in our being. If they move one more step, we will respond in kind.

    “Describes the sponsors of the Bill, the 59 ignominious, and barefacedly dishonourable Members of the House of Representatives and their clandestine backers, as “Terrorists”, who do not care about the peace, progress and corporate existence of Nigeria.

    “Reminds the 59 dubious and rapacious Members of the House of Representatives, their Sponsors and indeed all Nigerians that the Derivation principle was negotiated by the founding fathers of Nigeria before Independence and it cannot be deleted now. And that any attempt to do so is a call to anarchy.

    “Implores President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to focus attention on addressing the fundamental issues confronting the country, instead of further stoking the ambers of discord and disharmony.

    “Notes that the extant 13% derivation has not been reviewed for 22 years, despite the constitutional provision for review of revenue allocation every five (5) years, to reflect changing economic realities.

    “Consequently, DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE OF THE 13% DERIVATION TO 50%.

    “That, the position of the Niger Delta People is 50% Derivation, and nothing less.

    Read full communique below:

    COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AN EMERGENCY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PAN NIGER DELTA FORUM, PANDEF, HELD
    ON MONDAY, 25TH OCTOBER, 2021

    An emergency General Assembly of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, was held (virtual) on Monday, 25th October 2021. The Meeting which was chaired by the National Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE, had in attendance Critical and Strategic Stakeholders of the Niger Delta Region; including Representatives of Governors, Former Governors, Members of National Assembly both serving and former, Retired Top Military & Security Officers, Members of PANDEF Board of Trustees, Presidents of Ethnic Organizations, First Class Traditional Rulers, Leaders of Oil and Gas Host Communities, Women and Youth Leaders, Civil Activists as well as Niger Deltans in the Diaspora.

    2. Elder statesman and PANDEF National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, delivered a goodwill message at the meeting while the Director-General of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, OON, gave a keynote speech.

    3. The Meeting extensively discussed a Bill cited as Constitution (Alteration) Bill 2021, intending to delete Section 2, Subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), sponsored by 59 Members of the House of Representatives from the Northern part of the Country; given its socio-economic consequences on the Niger Delta Region and the Country at large.

    4. Arising therefrom, the Meeting resolved as follows:

    i. Noted that following the Richard’s Constitution of 1946 and Macpherson’s Constitution of 1951, Derivation Principle became a major factor in Revenue Allocation in Nigeria. And was reflected in both the 1960 Constitution and 1963 Constitution.

    ii. That the principle of derivation as encapsulated under the proviso to Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was aimed at providing recompense to the producers of any natural resources for the expropriation and sequestration of their rights to control and manage same, by the Nigerian State.

    ii. That when revenues from cocoa (in the West), groundnut (in the North), and Palm Produce and Coal (in the East) were the nation’s economic mainstay, derivation in the Revenue Allocation principle was not less than 50 per cent.

    iii. Noted that derivation, as a revenue allocation principle, has been resolutely suppressed since crude oil became the country’s major revenue earner. Meanwhile, oil and gas exploration activities have degraded the hitherto luxuriant, healthy ecosystem of the Niger Delta, and damaged the indigenous people’s means of livelihood, with little or no effort to ameliorate their consequential dire standard of living.

    iii. Therefore, insists that the principle of derivation in revenue allocation in Nigeria cannot be deleted from the Constitution.

    iv. Notes that it is not only against the principles of fairness, equity and justice but atrocious and wicked to contemplate deleting derivation principle from the Nation’s Constitution.

    5. Therefore, the Meeting:

    i. Unequivocally and in full resolution, condemns the obnoxious and Satanic Bill intended to delete Subsection 2, Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and describes the Bill as a “Legislative Coup” against Oil and Gas Producing States and Regions of the Country.

    ii. Warns that the Niger Delta people are ready and mobilized to dispense full resistance against this wicked machination and any future attempt to further Economically Emasculate the Region and its people. We will resist this Satanic and Senseless Coup with every fibre in our being. If they move one more step, we will respond in kind.

    iii. Describes the sponsors of the Bill, the 59 ignominious, and barefacedly dishonourable Members of the House of Representatives and their clandestine backers, as “Terrorists”, who do not care about the peace, progress and corporate existence of Nigeria.

    iv. Reminds the 59 dubious and rapacious Members of the House of Representatives, their Sponsors and indeed all Nigerians that the Derivation principle was negotiated by the founding fathers of Nigeria before Independence and it cannot be deleted now. And that any attempt to do so is a call to anarchy.

    v. Implores President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to focus attention on addressing the fundamental issues confronting the country, instead of further stoking the ambers of discord and disharmony.

    vi. Notes that the extant 13% derivation has not been reviewed for 22 years, despite the constitutional provision for review of revenue allocation every five (5) years, to reflect changing economic realities.

    vii. Consequently, DEMANDS AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE OF THE 13% DERIVATION TO 50%.

    That, the position of the Niger Delta People is 50% Derivation, and nothing less.

    6. The Meeting was held in an atmosphere of peace and collective commitment to the decisions.

    7. Done this 25th Day of October 2021.

    Signed:

    Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, FNSE
    National Chairman Akwa Ibom State

    Chief Hon. Thompson Okorotie, OFR
    Deputy National Chairman
    Bayelsa State

    Senator Bassey Ewa- Henshaw
    PANDEF State Chairman
    Cross Rivers State

    Prof. G. G. Darah
    PANDEF State Chairman
    Delta State

    Dame Betty Igbeyi
    PANDEF National Woman Leader
    Edo State

    Prof. B. B. Fakae
    Member, PANDEF BoT
    Rivers State