https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8958OUtijMo


The Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the N40 billion corruption allegation against the interim management committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was stunned on Thursday when an official accused unnamed members of the parliament of ‘hijacking’ the commission’s budgets over the years.

In his submission, at the hearing, the acting deputy director, projects, NDDC, Cairo Ojougboh, said the budgets of the commission ”have always been hijacked by the leadership of the committee on NDCC from both chambers for their personal gain”.

He asked the National Assembly ”to let the commission function in peace.”

“The budget(s) of the NNDC from 2001 till date, has (have) always been hijacked by the two chairmen of the committee; the chairman in the house and the chairman in the Senate,” the angry official said. ”Not one kobo has been misused since the coming of the IMC.

“We want to beg the National Assembly that they should allow the people of the Niger Delta to grow. Since the inauguration of the IMC, we have not known peace. It has been one false allegation after another.

“Some contracts supplied to ‘an NDDC warehouse’ along Benin-expressway. The warehouse belongs to Peter Nwabaoshi (a senator). About 2900 emergency projects were awarded and Mr Nwabaoshi collected 1000 of them saying he will distribute them among senators and House of Representatives members. But when asked, lawmakers denied receipt. We are being accused because we are working for the region and because they want to take over the commission.

“NGOs were paid N50 billion but they (chairmen, committees of both chambers) cut it to N49 billion each. They want us out to put people they can control.”

Tense session

The Senate and House of Representatives are probing an allegation the NDDC interim committee ‘squandered’ N40 billion within three months. They also seek account for other financial transactions within this period.

At the investigative hearing on Thursday, the lawmakers grilled members of the board who appeared before the committee over alleged discrepancies in the budget submitted by the commission, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The chairman of the committee, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, pointed out that while the commission said it spent N81.5 billion, the AGF submitted N82 billion and CBN submitted N92.2 billion between October 2019 and May 2020.

The committee sought explanations as to how other allocations in the budget were implemented. They include:

Condolences – N122 million, Consultancy – N83.3 million, N3.14 billion – COVID-19, N486 million – Duty Tour Allowance (out of which the current EIMC spent N305.3 million between February and May 2020).

Others are N1.9 billion – Lassa fever intervention spent by both IMCs, N900 million – Legal Services, N61 million – Logistics, N2.6 billion – medicals.

Defence

Although there was no tangible explanation for the differences in the budgets submitted by the commission, the AGF and CBN, the Acting Managing Director, Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, however, said the EIMC ”inherited so much debt that needed to be cleared upon assumption of office.”

He also said allowances like duty tours were not paid to staff for years hence the need for such allocations.


He further said the NDDC has not awarded any contract apart from the COVID-19 contract awarded by the president.

“We refused to do so, so as not to add to the confusion. The major interventions for COVID-19 were medical, palliatives, publicity,” he said.


Mr Ojougboh also denied allegations that the commission sacked some of its staff.

“Anyone who has said they have been sacked or suspended let him bring the letter. We have not sacked or suspended anyone. No one is being witch-hunted. Staff on leave are receiving full salaries,” he said.

Earlier, a representative from the Office of the Accountant General, Slyvia Okolie, said the OAGF submitted the NDDC’s audit report from 2016 to May, 2020 to the committee.

He said in 2017 – N64 billion, 2018 – N71 billion, 2019 – N71 billion, January – May 2020 – N34 billion has been released to NDDC.

Quarterly releases were suspended since June pending the outcome of the investigation, he said.

The investigative hearing will continue on Friday, the chairman said. All invitees are expected to be present – including the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, who failed to show up.

This is not the first time the lawmakers would be having a faceoff with another government official over the activities of an agency or ministry.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the minister of labour, (state), Festus Keyamo, accused lawmakers of trying to manipulate a recruitment process to their advantage.

SOURCE: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/402100-nddc-budgets-hijacked-by-nigerian-lawmakers-official.html

This is unacceptable because is corruption

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It's well with me and every other Nigerian despite what may be our economic status in terms of standard of living. Let these few opportunists continue to own the country. Jobs opportunities, they hijack. Contracts, the hijack. Budget they still hijack leaving nothing for the masses. Like I said, it's well. God is the ultimate.

okay

the problem about this problem is; I don't know what the problem is and that's the problem.

Awon ti hushpuppi

Criminals just wanting to cash out.

Nigeria is currently in a mess under buhari .

Everybody just dey do as they like non stop.

They all want to have their share.

APC with their corrupt and backward system.

I said it when they used old broom as logo instead of new modern broom.

Selfish crop of politicians. From Buhari to the Local councilor. Nigeria is finished

Sai Baba
4+4

Buhari come 2023

Dey will jst be calling money anyhow

They have not only hijacked NDDC, they have siphoned and liquidated Nigeria.
What a shame! Ilu ta n gbe ta ti n gbadun tele la wa di eni toun toro je

Everywhere crime just full

........ I have always said it that DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA IS A SCAM. A scam where less than 1% of the population control and squander the collective wealth of the remaining 99%. Honestly, if I were a military officer in the Nigeria army with say a rank like major or colonel or lieutenant general, I would have done a coup. But I'm not Someone needs to rescue this country from these institutionalized thieves

Nigeria is cursed I have always said it..if you watch well the hawks all feasting on the nddc are all already wealthy individuals ..but they won't allow money meant for developing the niger delta to be utilised effectively...

I just don't know what to say..NDDC and all other government parastatals should be privatised and given to private companies to run..we need new fresh heads with an economic mind set to run these organisations..

Nigeria is cursed..

There is no way nigeria is not cursed..

This country don tire me... i can't help but laugh when reading certain news.

colorsofrainbow:
We have 109 matured hushpuppis representing us in the Senate

colorsofrainbow:
We have 109 matured hushpuppis representing us in the Senate

God help Nigeria

NaijaOlosho:


Sai Baba
4+4

Buhari come 2023

Shift let me join you, It's 4+4+4 #2023

Different issues everyday.

naija matter don tire me sha naija matter don tire me sha

Stunned ke? They're not sincere about that because that's their ways, why are they now surprised?

NaijaRoyalty:
Nigeria is currently in a mess under buhari .

Everybody just dey do as they like non stop.

It even use to be worse. The difference is there was this chop I chop mentality during PDP era. Now everybody eye dey shine. Blowing breeze for each other yansh

They should blame minister of petroleum Mr integrity Buhari

Na Today




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