He said, “The Edo State Government has paid the pension and salaries of workers for July 2021. It is part of the state government’s sign to identify with Muslim faithful for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.” He added that the state government will continue to prioritize the wellbeing and welfare of workers in the civil service, in line with the Obaseki-led administration’s policy of meeting its statutory responsibility well before the end of the month. Ogie advised the workers to reciprocate the gesture by remaining committed to their duties and roles in the actualization of the ‘Making Edo Great Again’ agenda. than that.” The host community allocation has been a subject of heated debate last week as both chambers of the National Assembly struggled to decide between three and five percent.

  The allocation was one of the clauses left in consideration after the National Assembly had passed the PIB earlier this month. If cleared, it is expected to transform the nation’s oil industry. The three percent is different from the 13% derivation fund, which is paid to oil-producing states from the federation account. Instead, the three percent allocation will come from an entity’s actual yearly operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

All contributions will be deposited in a trust fund for host communities.

According to a draft of the PIB, the trust fund will enhance peace and cordial relationship between oil companies and host communities. While the Senate last Thursday adopted the three percent allocation despite protests by southern lawmakers, the House of Representatives, on the other hand, stepped down the controversial Bill after an hour-long closed-door session.