***FG confirms Wike’s disclosure on release of derivation arrears to Niger Delta states
Apparently validating the revelation by Rivers State Governor Nyesom WIke on release of arrears of derivation funds to Niger Delta states, the Federal Government has confirmed that it disbursed whooping N1.98trillion as share of the 13% oil derivation backlog paid to oil-producing states in seven years.
The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Budget, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, disclosed the development on Thursday at the sixth edition of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration scorecard.
The Finance Minister added that the amount was paid in seven years, despite some of the funds preceding the current administration.
She said, “One of the key functions of the Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning is to support the states.
“We wouldn’t have been able to grow consistently without enabling the states to grow because it is a federation.
“Mr. President has been very uniquely generous in his support to states. I can say no president has provided the level of support provided to the states of the Federation.
“He understands that the federating units need to work together as one to achieve the targets that he has set for the country. So everybody goes to support sub-national governments.
“In seven years, we have disbursed N1.98 trillion in funds to oil-producing states.”
It is instructive to note that Wike had stirred hornet’s nest when he said that he was using the derivation funds arrears to execute many projects in Rivers State and urged the people to thank Buhari for releasing the money.
He also wondered why the other oil producing states have refused to disclose their share of the 13% derivation arrears paid by the Federal Government from 1999 to all the Niger Delta States.
But Wike’s disclosure is causing mixed reactions among other Governors from Niger Delta States while some of them have issued statements to clarify the actual amount they received from the arrears of 13 per cent derivation funds.
