The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Finance to carry out an investigation on the exact amount currently deposited in the federation account and report its findings within four weeks for further action.
The resolution was sequel to a motion on the need to deduct 13 percent derivation from the one billion dollars approved by the National Economic Council to fight book haram insurgency sponsored by Mr. Ken Chikere during plenary.
An adoption that the motion be stepped down followed after a controversial debate was made.
The debate had earlier attracted a heated one when Mr. Shehu Garba (APC, Kaduna) opposed it. He said if the Boko Haram insurgency is a challenge to the sovereignty of Nigeria there should be a collective agreement to fight it.
Speaking in support of the motion, Mr. Abiante Inombek (PDP, Rivers) advised that States who benefit from the 13% be allowed to enjoy the 13% first before requesting for the $1billion.
House Deputy Speaker, Yusuff Lasun on his part was of the opinion that the that the motion touches the foundation of the Constitution, adding that consolidated and federation accounts were not really spelt out by the Constitution, as both were being used interchangeably. He said that whatever it will take, the issue of Boko Haram should be addressed.
Mr. Orker-Jev Emmanuel(APC, Benue) in his argument pointed out Order 9 rule 6 of the House standing rule which states that “it shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the House has come to conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission”.
Earlier, in his lead debate, Mr. Chikere noted that the proviso to Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution states 13% of the proceeds of the oil producing States in Nigeria as derivation fund payable to the benefitting States of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ondo, Anambra and Lagos.
He said the 13% derivation fund payable to oil producing States had not been deducted and paid to these States from the $1 Billion before or after the approval of the said sum to fight Book Haram insurgency.
According to him, if the 13% derivation fund is not deducted from the $1 Billion and paid to the oil producing States, it would amount to double contribution from the said States and also a breach of Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section one of the Allocation of Revenue Act.
Recall that at the 83rd meeting of the National Economic Council held at the Council chamber of the Presidential Villa, on 14th December, 2017. The thirty six governors of the States of Nigeria approved the deduction of the sum of $1billion by the Federal Government from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.
