UPDATE: Derivation formula splits National Conference

South-South, South West and South East delegates kick against recommendations of Confab Elders Committee.

Protests and complaints greeted the recommendations of the Elders Committee of the National Conference on Derivation Funds, which presented its report to the Conference in plenary on Wednesday.

The Committee, which comprises leaders of the six zones and two other members as well as representatives of women, civil society, youth and labour movement, had recommended the increase of the derivation funds from 13 per cent to 18 per cent.

It also recommended five per cent for the development of the solid minerals and another five per cent for the rehabilitation of the North East, North Central and North West zones.

Representatives of the zones were Ike Nwachukwu, Anya o. Anya and Chukwuemeka Ezeife (South East); Olu Falae, Alani Akinrinade and Kunle Olajide (South West); Edwin Clark, Idongesit Nkanga and Raymond Dopkesi (South-South); Iyorchia Ayu, Ibrahim Gambari and Jerry Gana (North Central); Mohamed Kumalia, Kashim Ibrahim and Adamu Waziri
(North East); and Bashir Dalhatu, Fatima Adamu and Ibrahim Coomassie (North West).

The Committee had volunteered to meet and intervene in the emotive issue of revenue formula to reach a consensus following intense debate on the issue, which divided the delegates along sectional lines.

While the southern delegates canvassed the raising of the derivation fund, virtually all the delegates from the north kicked against it.

A member of the Committee and former United Nations official read the report of the Committee.

“I have the honour to present to this plenary the outcome of the consultation that was held in view to find the way forward and promoting consensus on a very key issue that has capacity to divide this house and even may be this country.

“Mr. Chairman, there was a big relief and high expectations at plenary yesterday when General Ike Nwachukwu announced that a group of delegates have been working to broker agreement on the issue of
derivation and related matters because we all know how emotional the matter is and it has to be handle carefully.

“The group started with the leaders of six geopolitical zones and was later expanded to include the representative of labour, employers association, women society and civil society for two nights and two days, the group has been engaged in promoting consensus on the way forward with regard to the issue of derivation and related matters.

“After the two days and two nights here is what we arrived at: we arrived at this conclusions and in doing that among us there have been shift of positions on the parts of the two positions already taken by our numbers in the spirit of compromise and putting Nigeria first and above the interest of our respective zones and constituencies,
recognising that status quo is not sustainable.