Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Youths from the Southsouth have disagreed with their governors’ recent position that they should be allowed to appoint trustees to manage the host community trust fund contained in the Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA).
The youngsters under the auspices of the Bayelsa Youths Association (BYA) said the governors had not been able to develop oil impacted communities despite receiving the 13 per cent derivation meant for such rural areas.
The new President of BYA, Doupere Precious, in a statement on Monday said the governors should be ashamed that they underdeveloped oil-producing communities within their domains while their counterparts in abroad turned similar areas to the envy of the world.
Precious said: “We condemn and describe the proposal by the Southsouth governors to appoint trustees for host community trust fund provided for in the PIA as selfish and shortsighted.
“We advise the governors to look at the direction of acquiring oil blocks for their states like oil companies and appoint experts to run the blocks to make profit for their states. There is nothing stopping the governors from setting up oil and gas companies, bid for oil blocks and get first right of refusal.
“This will contribute to their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), provide jobs for the youths and create investment opportunities rather than trying to covet special funds meant for our community development.
“Besides, what have the governors done with 13 per cent derivation they have been collecting on behalf of oil-producing communities for donkey’s years? The rural communities under their care are left in penury without basic amenities”.
Precious called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to ignore the move by the governors, who he accused of planning to appoint their cronies that would give them indirect control of the funds.
