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“Break NNPC…We will Support You” – Rotimi Amaechi

By on May 28, 2012

The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Rotimi Amaechi has called for the dismantling of the oil behemoth – NNPC. Speaking at a retreat organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review last weekend, the Rivers State government listed abuses perpetrated by the National Oil Company which largely centered on failure to remit revenue to the Federation Account.

Governors have of recent times shown increased interest in Federal Accounts as the contents therein determine what reaches them at the States.

Amaechi said, “Break up NNPC, even if it means putting it in the Constitution. When it stands on its own, you can then remove it. Everybody is talking about deregulation, but nobody actually wants to. We need to deregulate. If it is not happening, please put it in the Constitution. The governors will support you.

“Why are there agencies that don’t obey the Constitution? The Constitution says all revenues accruing to the nation must be in the Federation Account. But because some people are above the Constitution, monies that are accruable to the country are not paid into that account.

“And the excuse they give is that the Appropriation laws passed by the National Assembly include a clause that says they can take their money upfront. Your laws cannot override the Constitution because you and I derive our existence from the Constitution.

“This is what they call the Rule of Law. That is why we ask, ‘should we keep NNPC the way NNPC is? Shouldn’t we tear it apart and make it a company, bold investors should come in?  Should it become an agency of government?

“If people don’t want to obey the law, you put it in the Constitution so that it becomes difficult. Because everyday we hear of deregulation of the petroleum sector. Truth is nobody wants to deregulate. So, on your own, you owe this nation a responsibility.”

Amaechi also expressed his displeasure at the Federal legal framework that disallows Rivers State from distributing the power it has generated.

He said, “Why do we have a total of 545 Megawatts of power in Rivers State and nobody can feel power? Simple: because you have made a law that empowers the federal government to distribute power alone. So Rivers State has 545 Megawatts of power, we need just 400 Megawatts but can’t discharge this power to our people.

“Why should a regulatory framework be the basis for which I should develop? So I can’t develop until other areas develop? No! You develop at your own pace. Simple.”

 

One Comment

  1. Wale

    May 29, 2012 at 6:35 pm

    Only in Nigeria….. *Shakes my head*