An association of Ndokwa women in Delta State under the umbrella body of 13% Oil and Gas Derivation Fund Women Foundation in Nigeria, Ndokwa chapter, has called on governors of oil and gas producing states to stop meddling with the 13 per cent Derivation Fund allocated by the Federal Government for the development of host communities.

The women group, led by its chairperson, Mrs Nneka Obi, and the coordinator, Mrs Rose Igba, made the call during their courtesy visit to the Bolowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief (Dr) Wellington O. Okirika CON, popularly known as Mr. 13% Derivation Fund, at his private residence in Effurun, on Monday, June 30, 2025.

During their presentation, the group lamented the waste the 13% derivation fund has been subjected to over the years by the governors whom they accused of hijacking it for their selfish interest and to the disadvantage of host communities whose inhabitants continue to grapple with abject poverty.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mrs. Obi said, "13% Derivation Fund belongs to us, oil producing, but the governors refuse us to make use of our money. They are oppressing us. Money given to us from federal government, the money will come to our state, but they will hijack it from us.

"We are suffering. Our land cannot yield any crop. Our casama is not doing well because of exploration. In our river, there is no fish anymore because of the oil. This money was given to us to take care of ourselves and our families. But today we are all in abject poverty. Nothing to show for it," they lamented 

The women group decried the alleged looting of the development fund by the governors whose actions they described as reaping where they did not sow, and appealed to the federal government to pay the 13% derivation fund directly to host communities.

"We have been crying for years that they should direct this money to our account, we have an account. Why paying this money into state account? The governors will loot this money and fly to abroad to buy properties. They use this money to settle political matter and we are the owners of the money. They deprive us of using this money to help our people.

"The other time, they told us that if they give us the money, we will kill ourselves. Them that is eating the money, how many of them have they killed? Are they not lavishing the money anyhow, doing nothing about the host communities while oil producing communities have nothing to show?

"The Bible told us that, you who build will habit, you who plant will reap. How can we build and another will begin to habit? We stay outside, the rain is beating us. Is that not wickedness? We plant, you came to harvest what you did not plant and we are dying in hunger. So we know that God will answer us. The Creator of the universe is watching and He will do something because God hates oppression," they stressed.

On her part, Mrs. Igba, praised Chief Okirika for championing the cause of the 13% derivation since the inception of the president Olusgeun Obasanjo era, and prayed he lived long to eat the fruit of his labour.

"We are here because of this 13% and we are here too to rejoice with our daddy for his birthday that he just celebrated a few days ago. Since this 13% started, daddy has been single-handedly advocating on this issue and also representing the whole oil communities.

"Daddy started it right from President Olusegun Obasanjo. Not only this 13 percent but also daddy brought DESOPADEC to this state. So our prayer today is that daddy live long so that he will enjoy the fruit of his labour," they prayed.

Chief Okirika, in his response, thanked the women group for the honour and urged them to keep praying to God to intervene on the issue of 13% derivation fund which he said is on the Exclusive Legislative List in the 1999 Constitution as amended, giving powers to only the president, not the governors, on its allocation.

It would be recalled that Chief Okirika, who turned 83 years on Thursday, June 28, 2025, launched his biography titled 'Mr. 13% Derivation Fund; The Life and Legacy of Chief (Dr) Wellington O. Okirika CON', at the KFT Event Place near Ekpan.

#penglobalcommunity #Ndokwa #13%DerivationFund #Delta