DESOPADEC of today is different-IJAG

The Itsekiri Joint Action Group, IJAG have said that the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, DESOPADEC of today is different from the previous one in the sense that the revenue allocated to the board goes to central purse from which it is distributed to various ethnic nationalities.

Comrade Timeyin Edema made the observation at a press conference held yesterday, Tuesday, November 4, adding that the new State Government made the change and this brought about the marginalization of the Itsekiris.

He explained that the former DESOPADEC Act made the distribution of the generated revenue allocation based on ethnic nationalities’ oil production, but the new Model stipulates that there is an equal distribution of the revenue among all the ethnic nationalities producing oil irrespective of their oil production quantum.

He said that even though DESOPADEC Head of Department, HOD is an Itsekiri, it has not stopped the Itsekiris from been marginalized hence they decided to embark on a peaceful protest where 14 of the protesters were arrested for 24 hours.

Speaking in the same vein, the Co-ordinator of IJAG, Prince Harry Tuoyo while condemning the attack, brutality and the violation of the fundamental human rights of his people, expressed sympathy to the victims and their families.

He added that IJAG which is made up of five bodies, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, National Association of Itsekiri Student, NAIS, Itsekiri Development Association, IDA, WASDA and HOSTCOM will pursue all legal means to ensure that their demand are met noting that they have sent a letter to the State government and are awaiting his reply.   

He listed their demands thus: A Biometric Capture of all Itsekiri staff employed by the Commission, more employment of Itsekiris to reflect their 29% oil production quantum, that the Overseas Scholarship Scheme of MSc and PhD students be reactivated, that the empowerment scheme for their women and physically challenged persons be revamped, that persons living with physical disabilities also possess the required qualification that can guarantee employment in the commission and therefore must be given a place in DESOPADEC, that educational materials be realized to our students in higher institutions, that industrial placement of Itsekiri students be considered in the commission, that the Chairman of the board must be provided with a befitting office as obtainable in NDDC model, that the three heads of Department zoned to her since the inception of DESOPADEC must be strictly maintained, that the Heads of Security of Security of the Commission like every other place must be a native of the place and as such an Itsekiri, that IJAG demands that the Commission be funded with 100% derivation fund from the Federal Government and that the part-time element in the appointment of ethnic representatives in the commission’s board be removed. 

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