Senator Ita Enang, SSA (Niger Delta Affairs) President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by Comrade Amos Etuk, Chairman, NUJ Akwa Ibom state and Vice Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Nene Affia, during a press conference at NUJ press centre, Uyo, to mark the 2021 democracy day.
By Abasifreke Effiong
Senator Ita Enang, Senior Special Adviser (Niger Delta Affairs) to the President, has called on Governors whose states are contributing revenue to the federation account to demand the payment of revenue from solid minerals into the federation account.
Senator Enang made the call in Uyo while addressing journalists at the NUJ press centre to mark the 2021 democracy day.
The former federal lawmaker made the call while addressing questions on fiscal imbalance between crude oil and solid minerals producing states.
States in Southern Nigeria where crude oil is drilled had kicked against artisanal mining of gold in Zamfara and the retention of revenue from the solid mineral by the state government.
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Enang said “the Governors and governments of different states generating revenue into the federation account that is shared every month to all the states should rise up as a body and demand that all monies made from solid minerals exploited anywhere in the country should be paid into the federation account. So, that at the end of the month the solid minerals producing state will also be given 13 percent derivation and the remaining 87 percent shared to all the states as it is done with revenue from crude oil.”
On insecurity, the Senator said the federal government needs the full support of all tiers government and sections of the country to be able to wriggle the nation out of the current situation.
“The federal government is not overwhelmed by insecurity in the nation but it is concerned and is working with the best that is available to address it.
“Insecurity in different parts of the country has challenged us as a people, we need to work together. Political party players should downplay politics but should up-play the question on peace and unity.
“I appeal to political parties to sink differences and join the governments to tackle insecurity and economic situation in the country.”
The President’s aide urged Governors to exercise full powers vested on them by the Land Use Act of 1978 to stop open grazing and end the perennial violent clashes between farmers and herders.
“The Land Use Act of 1978 vested the ownership and control of land within the state on the Governors. It is the Governors who have the right to allocate lands and issue occupancy rights.
“The Act empowers the Governor to allocate lands in any part of the state for the purpose of integrated farming. If they designate an area for integrated farming, poultry, goat, pig and cattle farmers will be confined to that area. So, any cow found grazing outside the designated area can be arrested and handed over to security agencies.
“The Governors should exercise the powers vested on them by the Land Use Act of 1978 so that we can solve the farmers/herders clashes once and for all”, Enang submitted.
