Payment Of Derivation Funds Directly To Host Communities Will Be Counter Productive, Chairman DESOPADEC Forum Insists

Chairman Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Indigenous Contractors Forum, Engr Ogie Samson has insisted that direct payment of derivation funds to host communities would be counter productive. There are certain payments made to communities that we cannot see the dividends or things to show about it.

We could boldly speak on evidence in projects like infrastructure and other activities that derivation funds going through state government has been fruitful. Paying it straight to host communities will only end in the pocket of the mighty, as the purpose of allocation will be defeated.

Samson, in a statement issued yesterday, said it would be out of place to pay the funds that was supposed to be used to develop oil producing communities directly to host communities.

Instead, he suggested that the money be paid directly to the oil producing state governments who should set up a commision to manage the disbursement and usage of the funds for the purpose they were meant for.

"It will be out of place to pay the money that is supposed to be used, to develop the oil producing communities directly to host communities, but rather, the money should be paid directly to government, while it should be managed by a commission like desopadec.

"The reason is because every funds paid directly to communities is never managed well, but rather, it leads to either crises or division among communities. It is a fact that there will always be misunderstanding between indigenes and government but the money with government still shows some levels of development", he said.

Ogie, who is also the National President of Elites for Good Governance, recalled that many ministries had closed down and development that is supposed to pass through then put to a stop because host communities requested for personal management. 

"The case of jobs and employment allocated to host communities have always been diverted because of personal gains and power control let alone paying such huge amount to host communities. 

"The federal government will not be doing communities any good in paying the money directly instead of making the government allocating it through the commission or ministry. The issue of paying the money directly should be ignored by presidency", he maintained.

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