A Civil Society group in the South-South region of Nigeria, Organisation for Human and People’s Rights Protection and Humanitarian in collaboration with the Niger Delta Movement for 13% Derivation, have called on the Federal Government to, without further delay, reform the disbursement of the 13% derivation fund.
The civil society groups while advocating for a direct allocation of these funds to oil and gas-producing communities, condemned the current practice of routing the funds through state governments.
According to the groups, “the existing system, is illegal and has led to mismanagement and inadequate development in the host communities”.
These were contained in a statement jointly signed by Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala and Comrade Ejiro Bobo, the National Leader of OHPRPH and spokesperson for the Niger Delta Movement for 13% Derivation respectively, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Tuesday.
The groups appealed to the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), and other relevant government agencies to, without further delay, enforce direct payment of the 13% derivation to host communities.
“As a matter of urgency, all relevant authorities must recognize the legal implications of denying host communities their rightful share. It is illegal and unconstitutional for state governments to manipulate or misappropriate funds meant for the direct benefit of the people bearing the brunt of oil exploration”, the groups warned.
They also reiterated their commitment to sustained peaceful advocacy until full compliance with the constitutional provisions is achieved.
“The 13% derivation fund, which is intended to compensate oil-producing regions for the environmental degradation and socio-economic challenges caused by oil extraction, should be directly allocated to the communities that bear the brunt of these activities”, the statement posited.
The civil society groups lamented that “the continued channeling of the constitutionally-mandated derivation fund through state governors has failed to serve the development interests of the host communities, many of which remain plagued by poverty, environmental degradation, and underdevelopment”.
The groups referenced Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that 13 percent of revenue derived from natural resources be returned to the states from which the resources are extracted, to cushion the adverse effects of exploration and support development.
However, the Niger Delta Movement argued that “the intent of the Constitution is being undermined when the funds fail to reach the actual host communities”.
The movement expressed appreciation to Dr. Wellington Okirika, the Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom and founding father of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSCON), “for his continued advocacy and endorsement of their campaign”.
The statement read in part, “The current system has failed us.
“State governments have consistently diverted these funds away from the communities that need them the most.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to ensure that these funds reach the grassroots, where they can be used to improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education”.
It continued, “The nine oil-producing states of the country, despite receiving a total of N620.23 billion from the Federation Account as 13 per cent derivation, yet the oil-producing communities got nothing.
“In 2025 alone, Delta State received the highest allocation with N185.16 billion, followed by Bayelsa with N130.21 billion and Akwa Ibom with N124.79 billion, but our communities are still suffering while the governors preside over the people’s money.
“We commend Dr. Okirika, also known as ‘Mr. 13% Derivation Fund,’ for backing our call and championing the true implementation of Section 162(2).
“It is time for President Bola Tinubu to end this long-standing economic injustice
