Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has advocated the payment of the derivation fund directly to the oil-bearing communities to enable them be the beneficiaries of the scheme.
Akwa Ibom is a major oil producer but is yet to set up an oil- producing community development commission as it was done in other oil-bearing States with many of its oil producing areas lacking in basic amenities
Governor Eno said there should a constitutional provision for oil- producing communities including traditional rulers, youths and women groups as well as community development associations to be beneficiaries of the derivation funds to the oil communities.
The governor’s views were contained in a seminar he presented at the department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Uyo being the requirement for the award of PhD in the department which he is currently undertaking.
Governor Eno, who noted that he had finished his course work some years ago but could not proceed with the other requirements for the award of a PhD due to his political engagements, added that having finished his seminar presentation, he was ready to complete entire process.
In his seminar presentation entitled, “Natural Resources Governance and Socio-economic development of Oil Producing Communities in Akwa Ibom State, he urged youths to continuously engage in self development to enable them take advantage of opportunities globally.
Addressing the students after his presentation, he commended the students for coming to receive him and assured that educational advancement would remain a priority in his administration’s blueprint.
He stated that under his administration, bursary will be paid yearly to Akwa Ibom Students as well as other educational support where necessary.
The governor commended his Department and Faculty lecturers as well as the University of Uyo community for the opportunity to have his first degree, masters and currently completing his PhD, and assured that he would remain a good ambassador of the institution through the policies and programmes of the State under his leadership.
He also commended the University for standing for the truth, especially in the course of the electioneering campaigns when people had peddled falsehood and campaigns of blackmail against him
