The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has said that the Senate did not accused the agency’s Board and Management of corruption or misappropriation of N1.4 trillion.
In a statement on Wednesday, in which explained the issues raised during Tuesday’s Senate probe of the agency’s budgets for 2021 and 2022, Ogbuku urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions based on the Senate’s decision and assured of the NDDC’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
At plenary on Tuesday, the Senate constituted an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged unauthorised spending by the NDDC for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.
Ogbuku said that NDDC respects the oversight function of the Senate and is ready to cooperate with the investigation committee. He also appealed for refrain from making hasty judgements based on Senate’s decision.
He said the Senate only believed that the funds being alleged were expended without approval or appropriation by the National Assembly, adding that the misunderstanding could be quickly resolved by providing the requisite documents and explanations.
“The NDDC wishes to clarify that the Senate has not accused the Board and Management of the NDDC of corruption or misappropriation of N1.4 trillion. The Senate only opines that the funds were expended without approval or appropriation by the National Assembly. This is a misunderstanding that can be easily resolved by providing the necessary documents and explanations”, the NDDC MD said.
He also explained that the delay in submitting the NDDC budgets and audited accounts to the National Assembly was due to factors beyond its control, such as bureaucratic bottlenecks and frequent leadership changes. He said that the NDDC had taken measures to address these issues and ensure timely compliance with all statutory requirements.
“The NDDC also wishes to explain that the delays in submitting its budgets and audited accounts to the National Assembly were due to factors beyond its control, such as bureaucratic bottlenecks, and frequent leadership changes. The NDDC has taken measures to address these issues and ensure timely compliance with all statutory requirements”, Ogbuku said.
He assured all stakeholders of the NDDC’s dedication to the development of the Niger Delta region and the welfare of its people. He said the NDDC had delivered thousands of projects across the nine states of the region since its establishment in 2000.
“The NDDC appeals to the general public to refrain from making hasty judegments based on Senate’s decision. The NDDC assures all stakeholders of its dedication to the development of the Niger Delta region and the welfare of its people”, he said.
Apart from constituting the ad hoc committee, the upper legislative chamber also stood down consideration of report of 2023 budget estimates of the commission.
The Senate resolution followed a motion by Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP Kebbi Central) which alleged unauthorised spending by NDDC on its 2021, 2022 and 2023 budget estimates.
Aliero’s motion and objection to consideration of the budgets was after reports on three budget estimates of NDDC was presented by Committee Chairman on Niger Delta, Senate Amos Bulus.
Aliero said it was a breach of the constitution by NDDC to engage on expenditure on the budget extimates without approval of the National Assembly.
But Senator Degi Biobarakuma (PDP Bayelsa East) urged the Senate to consider the 2023 budget as the budget extimates of the commission was presented before the National Assembly on time.
Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan said there was an authorised expenditure from 2021 and 2022 budgets of the commission.
“We are faced with a situation where expenditure was done probably for more than six months or probably 80 per cent of the expenditure has been done and we need to know what has happened”.
He said the term of reference of the committee was to investigate the financial activities of NDDC in the 2021 and 2022 budget estimates and report back in one week.
Senate consequently stood down consideration of the 2023 budget of the NDDC for further information and clarification on the figures contained in the budget and set up an ad hoc committee to investigate alleged unauthorised financial activities of NDDC for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.
The committee, which has Senator Yusuf Yusuf (APC Taraba Central) as chairman was given one week to turn in its report.
