The Federal Government says 9 oil-producing states received a total of N625.43 billion as 13 percent oil derivation, subsidy and SURE-P refunds from the Federation Account in the last two years, 2021-2022.
This was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu in a statement on Friday.
The states that received the refunds are Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
Shehu said that according to the data obtained from the Federation Account Department, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, a total of N477.2 billion was released to the 9 states as refund of the 13% derivation fund on withdrawal from Excess Crude Account (ECA) without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, leaving an outstanding balance of N287.04 billion.
He said the states also got N64.8 billion as refund of the 13% derivation fund on deductions made by NNPC without payment of derivation to Oil Producing States from 1999 to December.
He explained that the benefitting states still have an outstanding balance of N860.59 billion windfall from the refunds, which was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“According to the figures, under the 13% derivation fund on withdrawal from ECA without deducting derivation from 2004 to 2019, Abia State received N4.8 billion with outstanding sum of N2.8 billion, Akwa-Ibom received N128 billion with outstanding sum of N77 billion, Bayelsa with N92.2bn, leaving an outstanding of N55 billion.
“Cross River got a refund N1.3 billion with a balance N792 million, Delta State received N110 billion, leaving a balance of N66.2 billion, Edo State received N11.3billion, with a balance of N6.8billion, Imo State, N5.5 billion, with an outstanding sum of N3.3 billion, Ondo State, N19.4 billion with an outstanding sum of N11.7 billion, while Rivers State was paid 103.6 billion, with an outstanding balance of N62.3 billion.
The statement explains that the “States were paid in 8 instalments between October 2, 2021 and January 11, 2022, while the 9th to 12th instalments are still outstanding.”
Last week, Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, disclosed that he used state’s share of the 13 percent derivation arrears paid by the federal government to all the Niger Delta states to finance the projects he recently inaugurated. He challenged other governors to account for the funds.
On the 13% derivation fund on deductions made by NNPC without payment of derivation, Shehu said that the 9 Oil Producing States were paid in 3 instalments this year, with the remaining 17 instalments outstanding.
“Under this category, Abia State received N1.1 billion, Akwa-Ibom, N15 billion, Bayelsa, N11.6 billion, Cross River, N432 million, Delta State, N14.8 billion, Edo State, N2.2 billion, Imo State, N2.9, billion, Ondo State, N3.7 billion, and Rivers State, N12.8 billion.
“Meanwhile, the benefitting States shared N9.2billion in 3 instalments in April, August, and November 2022, as refunds on the 13% derivation exchange rate differential on withdrawal from the ECA.
“The three largest benefitting States were Akwa Ibom, N1.6billion, Delta State, N1.4billion, and Rivers State, N1.32billion.
“Similarly, all the 9 states received N4.7 billion each, totalling N42.34 billion as refunds on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015.
He noted that the refund, which is for all the states and local government councils, was paid on November 10, 2022.
The Federation Account also paid N3.52 billion each as refund to local government councils on withdrawals for subsidy and SURE-P from 2009 to 2015 on the same date in November, according to Shehu.
The statement says refunds to the Oil Producing States will continue.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
