Senate probes N1.4trn NDDC’s inappropriate spending

By Tunde Opalana

The Senate on Tuesday found the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) wanting of spending N1.4 trillion without appropriation and subsequently constituted a seven-man ad hoc committee to probe the non- budgetary spending.

The total amount is accumulated sum of the 2021 and 2022 budget proposals of the Commission.

The Senate Committee on NDDC had presented a consolidated budget proposal for 2021,2022 and 2023 fiscal years of the Commission.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had, earlier this year requested the Senate to approve NDDC’s budgets for 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Proposed budget by Buhari, for NDDC in the three fiscal years are; N485.7 billion for 2021, N928.2 billion for 2022, and N876 billion for 2023.

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But Buhari’s request came after the interventionist agency had spent the funds for the 2021 and 2022 financial years, totaling N1.4 trillion.

The chairman Senate Committee on NDDC chaired by Senator Bulus Amos (APC, Gombe), submitted its report on Tuesday and urged the Senate to approve the budget estimates.

However, the directive for an investigation was consequent upon a motion by Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi) who faulted the recommendation of the committee.

He noted that it was a breach of the constitution for NDDC to carry out expenditure of the budget estimates without approval of the National Assembly.

Aliero’s submission was agreed to by senators Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa) and Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos).

Adeola said there was an urgent need to carefully look at the 2023 budget estimates of NDDC as clarifications and further information was required on figures presented on the budget.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, therefore, raised a panel to probe the agency’s financial book.

Lawan said the term of reference of the ad hoc committee was to investigate the financial activities of NDDC on the 2021 and 2022 budget extimates.

The committee, chaired by Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf (APC, Taraba), is to submit its report to the plenary in one week.

Other members of the committee include: Seriake Dickson, Uche Ekwunife, Abdullahi Yahaya, Saidu Alkali, Adetunmbi Olubumi and Sadiq Sulaiman.

Meanwhile, Senate also stood down consideration of the 2023 budget estimates of the NDDC, seeking further information and clarification on the figures contained in the proposal.