By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has urged oil companies and host communities development trusts (HCDTs) to be transparent and accountable in the implementation of policies and projects in oil bearing communities as spelt out in the petroleum industry act (PIA).
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, stated this on Wednesday while presiding over a meeting between representatives of Egbema-Angalabiri, Agbidiama Communities and Renaissance Africa Energy Company, formerly SPDC, at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed concern over the incessant cases of intra-community conflicts and threats to shut down the operations of oil companies, identified lack of transparency in the award of contracts, as well as mismanagement of funds and employment opportunities in most communities.
To checkmate this, he said the state government has directed that henceforth all oil companies operating in the state should disclose the full content of the Free to Operate (FTO) agreements signed with the leadership of any community or its representatives to the entire community
According to the Deputy Governor, government has equally directed the oil firms to make available copies of the FTOs to the State Ministry of Mineral Resources within two weeks of signing such documents to enable it keep track of the firms’ engagements with their host communities.
Commenting on the Egbema-Angalabiri internal conflict, he cautioned the youths against shutting down the operations of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, describing the problem in the community as self-inflicted.
He equally advised the community to open and operate a central community account with three officials including the Amananawei, Community Development Committee Chairman and the women leader as signatories to check embezzlement of community funds.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who warned the communities against subletting contracts, especially when they have the local capacity and competency to handle such jobs, also directed the PIA management and host communities development trust boards to render periodic accounts to their various communities
His words: “Every FTO signed, a copy of it should be deposited with the Ministry of Mineral Resources within two weeks. Once an FTO is signed, those who signed it must disclose the full content of the FTO to the entire community.
“All jobs- unskilled, semi- skilled and skilled must be announced to the community and the community takes the decision as to who should be employed.
“All companies operating must disclose fully the prevailing contract sum for any contract that is being awarded, and no contract should be subsidized, except at the request of the community.
“PIA members must report periodically, preferably monthly to their communities. You must give account of what is happening to your communities.
“Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) shall not wards any contracts without reference or recourse to the communities.
“These are some of the operational guidelines we have decided to take the Governor for approval. Thereafter, a circular will be issued by the ministry of mineral resources and all oil companies will comply.
“We are doing this to complement the PIA, and most importantly, to checkmate the recurring cases of internal conflicts in almost all the oil bearing communities across our state. We want to ensure peace by all lawful means.”
Speaking earlier, a stakeholder of Egbema-Angalabiri Community, Hon Selekebina Saboh, expressed total support for the proposed operational guidelines of the state government.
While thanking government for its effort towards restoring peace in the community and industrial harmony for companies operating in the area, Hon Saboh said the issue of embezzling community funds would have been avoided if the community had supported him in kicking against the use of the personal account of successive CDC chairmen.
While giving account of his stewardship, the immediate past CDC Chairman of Egbema-Angalabiri, Mr Timadi Sambo, who was alleged to have mismanaged about N40 million belonging to the community, described the allegation as spurious and unfounded.
The meeting was attended by the paramount rulers, CDC chairmen and women and youth leaders of Egbema-Angalabiri and Agbidiama communities, as well as representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, and top government functionaries.
