Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) distributed N609.95 billion to Federal, States and Local Governments as revenue generated in November.

This is N77.25 billion more than what it shared in October, Mr Ahmed Idris, Accountant-General of the Federation said.

Idris said that after the cost of collection deductions by FIRS, Customs and DPR, the Federal Government received N248.2 billion, representing 52.68 per cent; the states got N125.9 billion, representing 26.72 per cent and the 774 local councils received N97.06 billion, amounting to 20.60 per cent.

According to Idris, oil producing states got N54.48 billion, which represents the derivation share of 13 per cent.

He said the country generated N356.07 billion as mineral revenue and N193.46 billion as non-mineral revenue in November, both showing improvements over earnings in October.

Mineral revenue increased by N38.78 billion, while non-oil mineral revenue also jumped by N68.65 billion.

Idris said oil revenue continues to be negatively impacted by low production due to poor maintenance, sabotage and the Force Majeure declared at Bonny Terminal.

He said the balance in Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at Dec. 15 remained $2.317 billion. He also put the balance in the Excess Petroleum Profit Tax account, at $133 million.

Idris said the Federation Account had received instruction from National Economic Council that $1 billion be removed from ECA to fight Boko Haram.

“The instruction has been given. But there is a process before money is taken out of an account. So unless that withdrawal is made, the balance remains the same.

“On what the money will be used for, the appropriate institution will have to give you that, namely the military, who are the ones that will utilise the money, and they know their needs,” he said.

On why the money is being taken from ECA, Idris said everyone should know that it is a savings account and ordinarily should have been distributed to the three tiers of government.

“So if the same owners decide that part of it should be utilised to secure the country, to secure the system, to make the system work and provide security for life and property, I don’t think it should be an issue.

“If the Governor of Ekiti has a problem with that, he should have made his position known to his forum, which is the Governor’s Forum.

“His dissension should not come to me on the pages of newspapers. He is entitled to whatever, but it should be directed to the appropriate place,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mahmoud Yunusa, Chairman, Commissioners of Finance Forum, said the distribution was timely, as it would enable states and local councils pay workers ahead of Christmas.

NAN