The Rivers State Governor and the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday attributed the reduction in the funds accruing to states as monthly allocations to the alleged ongoing looting in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation treasury.
Amaechi stated that though the issue of oil theft in the country could not be ruled out, it was not enough to reduce the state’s monthly allocation from N25bn to N12bn.
The governor, who spoke on Thursday in a radio phone-in programme, maintained that the negative effect of corruption in NNPC was affecting the fortunes of some states compared to oil theft.
He also insisted that Rivers State was not broke despite the reduction in its monthly allocation from the federation account, adding that the state cannot borrow to pay workers’ salaries.
He said, “The fact that our oil wells in Soku have been given to Bayelsa, in Etche to Abia, it will naturally bring down our revenue. But beyond that is the fact the stealing is going on in NNPC.
“The President (Goodluck Jonathan) is talking about oil theft; what quantity of oil can they steal that will bring down revenue from N25bn to N12bn? So, the stealing is more in NNPC.
“Oil theft is a different thing and the stealing going on in NNPC is a different thing. Corruption in NNPC is undermining the revenue the states are getting. Our corruption index has gone down by nine points.
“So, all the gains we made under Obasanjo has disappeared. We are now known as one of the worst corrupt countries in the world.” More @ http://www.punchng.com/news/amaechi-blames-dwindling-state-allocations-to-nnpc-looting/
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