NDDC PROBE: SENATE ASKS NDDC TO REFUND ‘UNJUSTIFIABLE FUNDS’ PAID TO STAFF

NDDC PROBE: SENATE ASKS NDDC TO REFUND ‘UNJUSTIFIABLE FUNDS’ PAID TO STAFF

The Nigerian Senate has asked the Interim Management Committee (IMC) in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to refund the sum of N4.923 billion payment made to staff and members of the Commission in breach of procurement, with immediate effect.

Galaxy’s Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that the Upper Chamber also called for the dissolution of the agency’s Interim Management Committee [IMC].

In a detailed report which was submitted to the Senate plenary on Thursday by the committee Chairman investigating the alleged financial recklessness in NDDC, Senator Olubunmi Adetukunmbi, it was revealed that the NDDC spent N1.334 trillion in five years.

He said the IMC was involved in reckless spending where they spent based on cash accounting and not based on budget.

Other lawmakers said the IMC spent a whooping sum of N81.5 billion in three months, lamenting that the money was not spent on development-oriented infrastructure in line with the mandate of the NDDC. 

They therefore called for prompt action in addressing the trend.

The report also recommended that the NDDC be returned to the presidency for supervision with the setting of supervisory board by governors of the nine Niger Delta States.