Okowa Replies Wike On 13% Derivation Arrears Paid To Niger Delta States

The Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa has replied the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who called on the people of the oil-producing states to ask their governors how they used the 13% derivation arrears paid to all oil-producing states by the Federal government.

 

Newsonline reports that the stated government said contrary to Wike’s statement that all oil-producing states have been paid all 13% arrears owed from 1999 by President Buhari, Delta state has received only N14.7 billion.

 

In a press conference, on Tuesday, in Asaba, Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Fidelis Tilije said the state government remained committed to transparency and accountability in all its financial dealings on behalf of Deltans.

 

He stated that contrary to reports Delta State has only received N14.7 billion in three quarterly installments of N4.9 billion each.

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According to him, the total amount due to the State from the 13% derivation arrears is N240bn out of which the Federal Government agreed to pay it in quarterly installments for a period of five years.

 

“With the agreed amounts settled, some states approached commercial banks and discounted theirs in full and collected the money, but Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said he would not want to leave the next administration with a huge debt burden.”

 

“So far, the State Government has received N14.7 billion in three quarterly installments and we have also accessed N30 billion out of the N100 billion we applied for as bridging finance,” Tileje explained.