N-Delta Civil Society Forum Appeals to President Tinubu, Warns Against Continued Diversion of 13% Derivation Funds

The Niger Delta Civil Society Forum (NDCSF), Ondo State chapter, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address what it describes as the “persistent injustice” in the administration of the 13 percent derivation fund, warning that communities may be compelled to seek international intervention if the Federal Government fails to correct the long-standing anomaly.

The call was made on Monday during a press conference in Ilaje, Ondo State, led by the state coordinator of the Forum, Comrade Mrs. Ilemobayo Ojalatan, alongside the secretary, Revd. Apostle Tayedolu Jato, and spokesperson, Revd. Banjo Ikuelogbon. The group also addressed an open letter to President Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), urging immediate enforcement of direct payment of derivation funds to oil, gas, and mineral-producing communities.

According to the Forum, the continued channelling of the 13% derivation fund through state governments has failed to produce the intended development outcomes, despite decades of advocacy.

Mrs. Ojalatan stated that the current arrangement contradicts the constitutional intention of the derivation principle, which is designed to compensate oil-producing communities for environmental degradation and infrastructural pressure resulting from resource extraction.

“The 13% derivation fund is a constitutional provision aimed at addressing the impact of oil production on host communities,” she said. “Unfortunately, the states have misdirected these funds into the wrong hands, leaving oil-bearing communities impoverished and deprived of basic infrastructure.”

The Forum issued a stern warning, saying oil-producing communities do not want to be pushed into seeking the involvement of international bodies to ensure the direct release of derivation funds.

“We do not want to be pushed to seek international intervention to get the 13 percent derivation funds paid directly to oil, gas, and mineral-producing communities,” the statement read. “But continuous neglect may compel host communities to explore such measures.”

The Ondo chapter’s position aligns with recent strong demands by NDCSF chapters in Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and other Niger Delta states, all of whom have separately urged President Tinubu, the National Assembly, and RMAFC to restructure the derivation distribution framework.

In Edo State, the NDCSF recently demanded the immediate establishment of Derivation Boards to manage and monitor the funds directly, while the Rivers State chapter called on the Federal Government to stop routing the 13% derivation through state governors, describing the practice as “unconstitutional, unproductive, and unjust.”

The Ondo chapter said these collective calls reflect a growing regional frustration with a system that has consistently failed oil-bearing communities.

The group expressed concern over what it described as widespread diversion and mismanagement of derivation revenues by state governments.

“Despite contributing massively to the national economy, many host communities still lack motorable roads, potable water, electricity, and functional healthcare centres,” Mrs. Ojalatan noted. “There is often little or no transparency in how states administer the derive funds.”

The group warned that the resulting sense of marginalization fuels youth restiveness, sabotage of oil facilities, and disruptions in national production.

NDCSF urged President Tinubu to direct RMAFC and other relevant agencies to begin a constitutional and operational review that will allow the 13% derivation funds to be paid directly to host communities through:

A Presidential Monitoring Committee,

Derivation Boards, or

A dedicated trust fund,

The Forum reaffirmed its confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership and urged him to correct what it called a historical injustice.

“We believe President Bola Tinubu can correct this anomaly,” the statement said. “The survival and development of host communities depend on it.”

The NDCSF emphasized that the President’s intervention is crucial to maintaining stability in the region, which remains central to Nigeria’s economic wellbeing.