South-South Governors Support Tinubu's Oil Revenue Order

The South-South Governors Forum (SSGF), chaired by Douye Diri, the Governor of Bayelsa State, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu's executive order that mandates the direct remittance of oil revenue to the federal account. This historic decision is seen as a critical shift towards restoring constitutional integrity in Nigeria's petroleum sector.

The forum welcomed the elimination of opaque deductions, which have historically limited the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to a nebulous 30% frontier exploration fund. The order is expected to significantly reduce revenue leakage and enhance fiscal justice for oil-producing states, thereby increasing available funds for critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

The governors also urged a comprehensive review of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), advocating for a reassessment of the current distribution of oil revenue to ensure that local governments and communities receive their rightful entitlements.