Connect with us

National News

FG orders remittance of oil, gas revenue to federation account

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has signed a new Executive Order aimed at protecting and increasing oil and gas revenues for the country, while also reducing wasteful spending and removing overlapping structures in the sector.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the President acted in line with Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

According to the statement, the Executive Order is designed to strengthen government control and improve transparency in the oil and gas industry, which remains a major source of income for Nigeria.

It also seeks to redirect resources in a way that will better serve the Nigerian people.

Very Nigerian reports that the Order is based on Section 44(3) of the Constitution. The section clearly states that ownership and control of all minerals, mineral oils, and natural gas found in, under, or on any land in Nigeria, including the country’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone belong to the Government of the Federation.

According to the statement, the directive seeks to restore the constitutional revenue entitlements of the Federal, State, and Local Governments, which were taken away in 2021 by the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.

The PIA created structural and legal channels through which substantial Federation revenues are lost through deductions, sundry charges, and fees.

Under the current PIA framework, NNPC Limited retains 30 per cent of the Federation’s oil revenues as a management fee on Profit Oil and Profit Gas derived from Production Sharing Contracts, Profit Sharing Contracts, and Risk Service Contracts.

The statement noted that given the existing 20% retention, the additional 30% management fee is considered unjustified by the Federal Government, as the retained earnings are already sufficient to support the functions NNPCL performs under these contracts.

“NNPC Limited also retains another 30% of its oil and profit gas under the production sharing, profit sharing, and risk service contracts, as the Frontier Exploration Fund under sections 9(4) and (5) of the PIA. A fund of this size, being devoted to speculative exploration, risks accumulating large idle cash balances, which would encourage inefficient exploration spending, at a time when government resources are urgently needed for core national priorities, including security, education, healthcare, and energy transition investments.

“There is also the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) under Section 52(7)(d) PIA, funded by the collection of gas flaring penalties provided under Section 104. The fund is to be used for supporting environmental remediation and relief for host communities impacted by gas flaring.

“However, section 103 of the PIA has already established a dedicated Environmental Remediation Fund, administered by NUPRC, specifically designed to fund the rehabilitation of communities negatively impacted by upstream petroleum operations, including gas flaring. Furthermore, Section 103 already imposes a fee on lessees to contribute to this fund for precisely this purpose,” the statement read in part.

Follow Very Nigerian WhatsApp Channel
For Verified Breaking News, Exclusive Reports, Trending Stories, And Real-time Updates.
CLICk HERE TO JOIN!
WhatsApp

Pearl Essien is a digital content creator and a graduate of the prestigious University of Calabar. With over four years of experience in writing, she specializes in crafting engaging stories that inform and inspire readers. Outside of her work, Pearl enjoys storytelling, reading, and playing table tennis, bringing the same curiosity and passion to her hobbies as she does to her writing.

Advertisement Follow Us on Google Discover
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Editorials3 hours ago

Wike, Akpabio, Uzodimma: Unity at the podium, rival ambitions behind the Scenes? can Tinubu keep his associates together?

National News4 hours ago

Real reason we removed universities from IPPIS, recruitment waiver – FG

World4 hours ago

Macron condemns looting, vandalism during cost-of-living protests in France

Special Features4 hours ago

Lagos State: List of LGAs, population, land mass, government, other key facts

Special Features4 hours ago

Oyo State: List of LGAs, population, land mass, government, other key facts

Special Features4 hours ago

Osun State: List of LGAs, population, land mass, government, other key facts

Special Features4 hours ago

Ondo State: List of LGAs, population, land mass, government, other key facts

Metro6 hours ago

Eight Nigerian Soldiers killed as ISWAP landmine hits Army patrol vehicle in Borno

News6 hours ago

Bauchi Health Agency boss, four children die in Road accident

National News6 hours ago

‘Nigeria cannot become prosperous in four years’ — Tinubu’s Economic Adviser says

Politics8 hours ago

2027: Tinubu must be stopped, ‘even Buhari saw him as bad news’ — Hakeem Baba-Ahmed

Politics8 hours ago

APC sweeps all 21 chairmanship seats, 239 Councillorship positions in Kogi LG poll

Politics8 hours ago

‘₦29,000 Cannot sustain a retired officer’ — Atiku challenges Tinubu on police pensions, proposes initiative

News9 hours ago

FG ends 17-year blackout in Gombe community with 1MW solar mini-grid

Sports10 hours ago

EPL: Leeds hold Man Utd to 1-1 draw as pressure mounts on Carrick