Ijaw Youths makes U-turn over PIA, accept 3 per cent provision for host communities

 Ijaw Youths from the Nine States of the Niger Delta region have reversed its decision on the total rejection of the three per cent provisions to host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the Ijaw Youths, they have accepted the PIA as signed into law but called for a review of the composition of the Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) under the Act. 

The Ijaw Youths, under the aegis of the Ijaw Youths Council, worldwide, in the statement issued yesterday in Yenagoa and signed by its National Spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, said the decision to accept the provisions of the PIA was taken after several deliberations with stakeholders including Political leaders, Youth Bodies, Women and Civil Society groups. 

The IYC pointed out that after a detailed study of chapter 3 on the set up of the Host Community Trust in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), there was no specification on the inclusion of key stakeholders from each host communities in the composition of the Development trust.

“The IYC is calling for a review of the composition and management of the Host Community Trust to include representatives of the State Government, the Local Government, the Youth and Women from the host communities. “

“The importance of the inclusion of these stakeholders cannot be over emphasized. The States and Local Governments have played a major role in ensuring peace in the region that was not breached. They have served as Chief Security officers of their domain and worked with the youths, women and traditional rulers to sustain the existing peace in the host communities and outside. Their inclusion will further deepen the peace and lead to pragmatic development of the host communities.”

The IYC declared that the calls by Ijaw Youths for a town hall interactive session with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva is not out of place and hopes that he will heed to the calls to meet with key stakeholders in the region for a detailed understanding of the provisions of the PIA. We have resolved to continue to reach out to him and the Presidency for a better understanding on the Act.

The IYC, had in August rejected the signing of the controversial Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) by President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting that is was an affront to the outcry of the people of the Niger Delta region, especially the three per cent provision for the oil producing communities.

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