By Odo Ogenyi, Uyo
The Civil Liberties Organization,CLO, in Akwa Ibom has absolved the state government of any wrong doings in the handling of it’s share of the 13% derivation arrears paid to oil producing states since 2021.
CLO chairman, Mr Franklin Isong, told a press conference in Uyo yesterday that the tension being generated by the issue was uncalled for as the state government had already captured the expected arrears in successive budgets since 2021.
Isong advised politicians in the state to excise restraint and not allow their political ambitions to becloud their reasoning and create unease and tension in the State.
“CLO’s independent investigation into the issue has revealed that the 13% Derivation Fund arrears refunded to the account of the Government of Akwa Ibom State started in 2021.
“CLO notes that the 13% Derivation Fund arrears refunded to the State by the Federal Government was captured in the 2021 Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State and in the 2021 approved revised Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State.
“CLO also notes that the 13% Derivation Fund arrears refunded to the State by the Federal Government was captured in the 2022 Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State and in the 2022 approved revised Appropriation Law of Akwa Ibom State.
“CLO can confirm that the 13% Derivation Fund arrears refunded to the State by the Federal Government is reflected in the 2023 Appropriation Bill of Akwa Ibom State currently under consideration by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
“CLO’s findings further revealed that the 13% Derivation Fund arrears refunded to the State by the Federal Government was captured as one of the sources of revenue accruable to the account of the Government of Akwa Ibom State in the Accountant General’s Audited Report for 2021 and will be captured in the Accountant General’s Audited Report for 2022.” The chairman explained.
The CLO, Isong maintained has continued to place emphasis on transparency and accountability and remained committed to holding political office holders and government accountable to the people, hence it’s project tracking of both Federal and state lawmakers from the state.
“So far, CLO has toured constituency projects of some of the Lawmakers, and the exercise is ongoing. At the end of the exercise, CLO will be able to appraise the performance of the State and Federal Lawmakers.
The chairman said the organization has firsthand information on projects executed and facilitated by the administration with more than 50 road projects inspected and found to be either completed or at various stages of completion, while enormous gains have also been made in the area of industrialisation, aviation, environment, power, health, agriculture and education.
It commended Governor Udom Emmanuel and the security agencies in the State for the sustenance of peace, which has earned Akwa Ibom the status of the most peaceful State in Nigeria in the past seven and a half years.
