Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has drawn a line on accountability in the management of benefits due to oil-producing host communities, warning operators and regulators against failing to meet their obligations under the Petroleum Industry Act.
The commission’s chairman, Mohammed Shehu, gave the assurance at an investigative hearing into the operations of an oil exploration and energy production company and the implementation of the host community development trust.
The hearing, conducted by RMAFC’s investment monitoring committee, focused on whether the benefits guaranteed to host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act are being fully delivered.
Committee chairman, Ekene Enefe, expressed concern over repeated failure to appear before the committee, stressing that the commission would not tolerate attempts to evade legitimate oversight.
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He also directed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to address concerns surrounding the host community development trust, while giving an ultimatum of 48 hours to resolve outstanding obligations to host communities to be settled.
Stakeholders, including representatives of the Anambra State government and RMAFC federal commissioners, also called for greater transparency, stronger collaboration and independent verification of community representation and statutory contributions.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
