The majority of the Senators, in their contributions, kicked against Nwoye’s argument because States like Kogi and Lagos States are not covered by NDDC operations.
The Senate has rejected a bill seeking to include Anambra State as a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The bill titled, “A bill for an Act to Amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act to make provisions for the inclusion of Anambra State as one of the member states and for other connected matters thereto, 2024 (SB.271)” was sponsored by Senator Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North), during Wednesday’s plenary.
Nwoye noting that Anambra has been a beneficiary of the 13 per cent derivation since 2021, mentioned that the state will further benefit from the mandate of the NDDC if it is included in the envisaged amendment of the Act.
Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East) stated specifically that the NDDC is not only for oil-producing states but rather, by its very name, is more of a regional or geographical intervention body.
He claimed that as an oil-producing state, his state has also been receiving 13% of the derivation.
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With relevant documents in hand, Senator Nwoye angrily retaliated, asserting repeatedly that Anambra and not Kogi, has been receiving 13% derivation.
He said, “Mr President and distinguished colleagues, Anambra as an oil-producing state has been collecting 13% derivation from oil exploited from her wells by the federal government since 2021 and eminently deserves to be included in the operational radius of NDDC.
“Kogi State was also declared as an oil-producing state but has not been collecting any 13% derivation,” he said.
Jibrin who became furious by this response began telling Nwoye to limit his argument to Anambra State and allow the senate to decide what to do with his bill.
“Senator Nwoye with all due respect please stop dragging Kogi State into your argument for membership of Anambra State in NDDC. Kogi State is an oil producing State and has also been collecting 13% derivation since October 2022,” he said.
Reacting, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, suggested an amendment that would accommodate other states, stressing that if the argument of Senator Nwoye on the proposed membership of Anambra State in NDDC is to be accepted by the Senate, then Lagos State which has two oil wells in Badagry will also clamour for membership of the commission.
Senator Nwoye however insisted that Kogi was yet to receive 13 per cent oil derivative, arguing that the oil wells being claimed by Kogi State belong to Anambra.
Following this argument, Akpabio advised that the bill be stepped down or be subjected to votes.
He thereafter put the second reading of the bill to a voice vote of which the majority rejected it, overwhelming those in favour of it.
