ASABA -Oil producing communities in Delta have asked the state government to grant greater autonomy to Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to enable it perform optimally.
Operating under the auspices of Oil Producing Ethnic Alliance in Delta, the communities are asking for full independence, devoid of politics for the commission.
The Chairman of the alliance, Mr. Edisemi Yiki, told newsmen in Asaba that only full autonomy for DESOPADEC that would ensure full benefit for the communities.
He also called for urgent amendment to the law setting up the commission in the area of funding to reflect the wishes of the people.
Yiki, who is also the national coordinator of the Niger Delta Peoples? Conscience, said the commission would perform optimally if it could get up to 80 per cent of the derivation fund.
He said that the current 50 per cent of the fund had not been fully implemented adding that the “commission is currently struggling with its responsibilities??.
“We believe the commission can do more for the various communities in the area of manpower development, but first the commission needs to be properly funded,” he said.
Yiki said that the group would next week press home their demands by organising a peaceful rally in the three senatorial districts of Delta.
“The commission does not exist all for itself, but for the people. The proposed protest is part of seeking dialogue that can bring about development in the communities,” he said.
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