Southern governors reject 3% revenue for oil communities in PIB, insist on presidency in 2023

The Southern governors have rejected the three percent revenue recommended in the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) just passed by the National Assembly.

The governors also insisted that Nigeria’s president must be rotated between the Southern and Northern regions, while demanding that the South must produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023 irrespective of the political party that the person may belong to.

The governor’s also announced September 21st, 2021, as dateline for the promulgation of anti-open grazing laws in their various states in order to end the persistent face-off between farmers and herders across the region.

This was contained in a communiqué issued today at the end of the Governor’s meeting in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.

The communique was signed and addressed by the Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was the head of the Governor’s forum.

Read also: Southern governors meet to discuss open grazing, restructuring

The meeting was a follow-up to their last meeting in Asaba the Delta State capital.

The governors also resolved that security agencies must notify them as the chief security officer of their states before they carried out any operations within their domain.

They further Frowned at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.

They, however, rejected the three percent allocated for oil exploration communities in the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), demanding for five percent as passed by the House of Representatives.
The Governor’s in the communiqué lamented that spate of insecurity, while-reemphasizing the need for state police for Nigeria in view of the state of affairs.

They further demanded that funds deducted from the federation account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the states and federal government.

According to the statement,”The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Rising from the meeting, the Forum agreed on the following:

“Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.

“The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.

“The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
Re-emphasised the need for State Police;

“Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed;
the forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights;

“Set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States; and Resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Law:

“The Forum commends the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB; the Forum rejects the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives;

“The forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins;

“However, the forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.

“In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum rejects the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.

“The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the State”.