The Senate has called for the immediate dissolution of the interim management of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, NDDC, asking President Muhammadu Buhari to reconstitute the board of the NDDC.
The Senate reached the position based on the report of its ad-hoc Committee report set up to investigate alleged N40 billion financial recklessness in the 2020 budget of the commission.
The report observed that the absence of a substantive Board of Directors at NDDC had created ample opportunity for all manners of infractions in the finances of the agency.
“The report further indicted the Ministry of Niger Delta Affair, supervised by Buhari’s Minister, Godswill Akpabio; accusing it of” negligent supervision and could not function as effectively as a board would have done”.
The Senate asked President Buhari to activate the statutory provisions in the NDDC Act to reconstitute a substantive board.
The Senate chamber consequently asked that the NDDC portfolio be taken from the Ministry and returned to the original arrangement under the supervision of the Presidency.
This was as Senate called for the inauguration of the Monitoring Committee and Advisory Council to ensure sufficient check and balances in the internal affairs of the NDDC.
The Senate also asked the Keme Pondei led Interim Management Committee to vomit the sum of N4.923 billion allegedly spent on items not captured in the budget and in breach of procurement process.
The Senate asked that the money be returned immediately to the Federation Account.
These include payment of N85.7 million for overseas travel to the United Kingdom, N105.5 million for Scholarship Grants and N164.2 million for Union members Trip to Italy.
Others include N1.96 billion for Lassa fever kit, N1.12 billion on Public Communication.
The IMC is to also refund another N1.49 billion it spent on Covid-19 relief including the N1.3 billion the management said it spent on taking care of itself and staff.
It also included the sum of N475 million gifted to the police to purchase hand sanitizers and facemasks for its commands in all the 9 states of the NDDC.
The Senate report also called for a review of the financial and accounting process of NDDC.
To sanitize NDDC books, the Senate asked that the Auditor- General of the Federation take over the forensic auditing of the NDDC.
It also advised the President to hire an international auditing firm to look into the finances of the NDDC.
Also Read: NDDC contracts: Reps initiate criminal complaint of perjury against Akpabio
The Senate mandated its Committee on Ethic, Privileges and Public Petition to thoroughly investigate alleged blackmail by NDDC against some members of the National Assembly.
The committee has four weeks to complete the assignment.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
