The Southern governors in Nigeria and members of the House of Representatives seem to be on the same page regarding the issue of five percent for host communities. They wished it to be 5% for the host communities, but the Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria slashed it to three percent for host communities. The bill has been passed, awaiting ratification that would most probably make it become a law. The executive had proposed 2.5 percent for host communities. The five percent as requested by Southern governors and the House of Representatives would have been better, but since the Senators have slashed it to three percent, it is better than nothing because this issue has been going on for years without any solution. The Viewers Corner News team pleads with host communities in the southern part of Nigeria to make due with the three percent for now. What is important in our opinion is how this three percent is going to be used to meet the demand of those communities who have been shortchanged for so many years.
Again, if the stakeholders in the south are to use this three percent judiciously without fingering it, such a figure would go a long way in solving most problems in the host communities of the oil producing region of the country. Our fear is that this three percent may not get to those that need it the most because of greed and corruption from the representatives of the people of various communities. Again, the people of Nigeria both at home and abroad are watching to see how the three percent agreed upon would be used in those host communities when everything becomes operational. For now, manage what you have and press for more in the future.
Source: Viewers Corner News.