October 22, (THEWILL) – A major policy change by the Cross River State government is threatening the cocoa revolution drive of the previous administration in the state.
This follows the setting up of a new cocoa allocation committee with terms of reference which is at variance with the already executed consent judgement between the cocoa landlord communities and state government.
Following about seventeen years arrears owed landlord communities in the state by the state government, they draged the state government to court.
In the course of prosecuting the case, two consent judgements from Etung and Ikom High Courts ordered the state government to defray its protracted indebtedness to the landlord communities.
Following this judgment, the government enforced the two Consent Judgments through the concerted and properly coordinated actions of the Governor and His Deputy, the Attorney-General, Due Process Office, Auditor-General, Internal Revenue Service, Smartgov Office and Cocoa Development and Control Department, Governor’s Office
The state government subsequently approved the payment of the government indebtedness to the cocoa landlord communities through the Smartgov account platform in line with the consent judgement.
This was aimed at proactively settling all her past, present and future liabilities and obligations to the Cocoa Landlord Communities thus, permanently prevent delay and the accumulation of rent/royalties.
Accordingly, Cross River State Government opted for and approved lease of 6 (six) years CERTAIN, to Smallholder Farmers in line with the executed Agreement dated 13th August, 2021 with the Representatives (Attorneys) of the Landlord Communities.”
The precious administration in its wisdom allocated a total of 1,415 hectares of cocoa farmland to farmers leaving out 3,137 hectares to be allocated with the landlord communities having seventy percent allocation.
So far, the landlord communities have collected over N37,000,000.00 as rent and royalties realized from the lease in the Smartgov lease arrangement while the state government has earned over N41,000,000.00 correspondingly paid through the automated Smartgov account platform number 1008000100/40237A that splits directly into landlord communities account and the state government, an action that has put an end to the age-long crisis of rent and royalties between landlord communities and the state government.
However, this modest achievement aimed at stabilizing the cocoa sector in the state is being threatened as the policy has been shelved.
This follows the setting up of a new cocoa allocation committee and a mandate which contravenes the court ordered judgment.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Crop and Irrigation Development, Mr. Johnson Ebekpo Jnr. while inaugurating the new cocoa allocation committee in his office in Calabar said “funds realized from the allocation would be paid into government dedicated bank account” as against the Smartgov account platform as ordered by the court.
He said the cocoa allocation would be fashioned out through a “public lottery” to select nominations across board in a transparent way where Chiefs/traditional rulers and revered public officers will be selected to draw the lottery on a big spin in proportion to the existing plots on public offer”.
Ebekpo charged the allocation committee to “deduct at source from the proceeds arising from the cocoa plot allocation 45 percent of the entire proceeds thereof, and the rest paid to the government coffers as revenue through the TSA”, which is completely at variance with the execution of court judgement.
Beneficiaries of the 1,415 hectares who have already paid their lease fees for the 2024 – 2029 period and entered into genuine agreement with the state government have vowed to seek redress in court if their plots are encroached into by the new cocoa allocation committee.
Reacting to the latest development, Odu John, an investor said, “I feel so surprised that the Government can make such a hasty decision on allocation of cocoa farms without considering giving us the privilege to make input in this matter”.
Also speaking, Secretary, Cocoa Landlord Communities Committee, Chief Asu Ndep, said, “All these new policies made by state government are completely out of context. Because its directly trying to disrupt the Smart gov.platform that assisted us to claim the debt state government was owing the cocoa landlords communities”, he said.
The investors called on Gov Bassey Otu’s administration to have a rethink so that cocoa landlord communities can have thier share of money that is due to them as royalties.
They also urged the state government not to breach the two consent judgement which had been enforced so as not to expose the community in chaotic situation.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
