The Ijaw National Congress, INC, and other critical stakeholders in the Ijaw ethnic group have called on the presidency to refrain from signing into law the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that the National Assembly allotted 3% as host community trust fund.
Speaking to reporters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, the President of the INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba, said such action was unjust and rape on the rights of the people and if not immediately corrected could reignite the pursuit for self-determination and self-actualization.
The passage of the controversial PIB has continued to generate rising tensions, regarding the 3% allotment to host communities which are considered too small.
The recent group to kick against the legislators’ decision was the Apex Ijaw socio-cultural body, the Ijaw National Congress.
Another controversial clause in the bill which the Ijaw leaders are against is the 30% oil exploration fund of frontier basins.
To them, the Ijaw ethnic nationality is more convinced that restructuring, true federalism, and resource control are what will guarantee the Ijaw continuous commitment to a united Nigeria.
They called on top government officials and legislators representing the region to throw their weights behind the agitation for a better deal of a minimum of 10%.