ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Friday, March 5, 2021
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
NDDC

The Niger Delta Development Commission [Photo Credit: Nsima ekere]

10 days to end of the year, Senate passes NDDC’s 2020 budget

The approval comes despite the Senate's vow not to approve a budget for the NDDC until its board is constituted.

byQueenEsther Iroanusi
December 22, 2020
4 min read

Ten days to the end of the year, the Senate on Monday approved the 2020 budget of N453.2 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The approval comes despite the Senate’s vow not to approve a budget for the commission until its board is constituted.

The lawmakers also approved the budget despite the failure of the dissolved Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC to reconcile differences and discrepancies in the commission’s 2019 budget performance.

The lawmakers observed the anomalies and other allegations of fraud and embezzlement of funds by the IMC during the 2020 budget defence in July.

The delay

President Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2019 transmitted the NDDC’s 2019 and 2020 budget estimates to the Senate for consideration and passage.

But some senators had kicked against the budgetary allocations, citing administrative illegalities in the commission.

Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader, said if the budget was approved by the Senate, it would set a bad precedent because President Buhari is yet to appoint a board to manage the affairs of the NDDC.

President Buhari presents the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly. [PHOTO CREDIT: @profosinbajo]

“This August body, having confirmed the board of NDDC, will not countenance any illegal contraption coming in front of us to say they are representing the NDDC,” he had said.

RelatedNews

COVID-19: Nine things to know about Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine arriving Nigeria

Bandits offered money to sabotage negotiation for release of Jangebe schoolgirls – Zamfara Governor

Osinbajo opposes cryptocurrency ban

UPDATED: Zenith Bank becomes Nigeria’s biggest bank by asset

The NDDC, created by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration as an interventionist agency in response to decades of complaints of neglect by the oil-rich region, has little to show for the billions of naira it has received in the 19 years of its existence.

Although the Senate had confirmed 15 nominees led by Edo politician, Pius Odubu, in October 2019, the president refused to inaugurate the board.

This allowed the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, to name an IMC with Joy Nunieh as the Acting Managing Director. This set up was changed months later when the president appointed Kemebradikumo Pondei as Acting Managing Director.

Past heads of the commission were dismissed over one allegation of fraud or another.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

The most recent was in July, when the National Assembly set up a panel to investigate the financial recklessness of the IMC.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the commission used about N1.5 billion as COVID-19 relief,  paid officials N85 million to attend graduation in the UK during a lockdown and how it was asked by the Senate to refund all the monies spent.

These and more led to a delay in the consideration of the NDDC’s appropriation.

Budget passage

Components of the approved budget were the same as the proposed appropriation as sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

ADVERTISEMENT

The approval followed a presentation of the report of the Senate committee on Niger Delta.

The Vice Chairman of the committee, Amos Bulus, who presented the report, said, on the commission’s revenue projection, the panel adopted N63.5 billion as reflected in the Appropriations Act, 2020 and a total of N81 billion was earmarked as statutory contribution by the Federal Government to the NDDC.

He further explained that N100 billion naira, which reflected as unpaid arrears by the federal government, was not considered as part of the commission’s revenue projection by the committee “because the amount was not approved in the 2020 Appropriations Act by the National Assembly.”

More details of the budget

Personnel Expenditure – N27,389,000,000 billion
Overhead expenditure – N13,937,244,107 billion
Internal capital expenditure – N2,793,755,893 billion
Development projects – N409,080,000,000.

Total expenditure – 453,200,000,000

Revenue Profile:

a. Revenue Brought Forward – 12,000,000,000
b. Federal Government contribution – 63,506,151,945
c. Federal Government contribution (ie Unpaid arrears by Federal Government) – 0
d. Oil companies contributions and Nigeria Liquefied Naturall Gas Ltd (NLNG) and others – 317,493,848,055
e. Ecological Funds – 60,000,000,000.
f. Other Internally Realized Income – 200,000,000

Total revenue – 453,200,000,000

Mr Bulus said the commission disclosed that its revenue inflow from oil companies/NLNG and others exceeded what was projected, prompting an increase in the revenue projection for that sector, from N200 billion to N317 billion.

The committee also recommended that the lifespan of the budget be extended to enable the commission achieve full implementation. Accordingly, the 2019 NDDC Budget was recommended to elapse on May 31, 2020.

All the recommendations were adopted by the Senate.

Other concerns

Prior to the budget passage, Bayelsa senator, Seriake Dickson, raised concerns about passing a budget for the commission that is being run by a sole administrator.

He was referring to Effiong Akwa who was recently appointed by President Buhari as the sole administrator of the NDDC. This was after he dissolved the Interim Management Committee of the commission.

Mr Dickson asked that a motion to be considered to prevail on President Buhari to immediately constitute the board of the NDDC.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan [PHOTO CREDIT: @DrAhmadLawan]

“What I am rising to propose, Mr. President, that this Senate at this point, having now agreed to pass the budget, can we take a motion to the effect that the President be called upon to constitute the board in accordance with the Act without further delay; and that this budget be passed for the sake and development of the well-being and welfare of the people,” he said.

In his response, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, promised that the National Assembly would continue to engage the Executive on the need to immediately constitute the Governing Board of the Nigerian Delta Development Commission.

“I think you have made the point. Even without a motion, you have stated this and it is recorded. And, I have stated this, too. We have been engaging with the Executive arm of government that the nominations into the Governing Board should be made. We have been making that point and will continue to push until it is made.

“I think we are getting there, so even if we don’t take any motion, I’m sure the explanations you have given will go a long way.

“I don’t think the Sole Administrator should be there for any long period of time, but it is for us to ensure that between now and when that administrator goes, the funds appropriated are properly utilised.”

Mr Lawan, also charged the Niger Delta committee to ensure the proper use of funds by the commission through strict oversight.

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate


TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...



JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (2)
premiumtimes



PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Insecurity: 349 killed, 290 kidnapped in violent attacks across Nigeria in November – Report

Next Post

Oil slips again as new coronavirus strain proves ‘nightmare before Christmas’

QueenEsther Iroanusi

QueenEsther Iroanusi

QueenEsther Iroanusi covers the National Assembly for PREMIUM TIMES. She is a 2018 Female Reporters Leadership Programme fellow of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. She has a degree in French. She can be reached on Twitter @QueenExtha

More News

Nigerian soldiers used to illustrate the story.

Insecurity: Notorious bandit, others killed in military bombardment in Kaduna – Official

March 4, 2021
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State [Photo: NAN]

UPDATED: Many feared abducted in fresh Zamfara bandits attack

March 4, 2021
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state. [PHOTO CREDIT: @officialdrbellomatawalle]

Zamfara govt imposes curfew in Jangebe after violent protest

March 4, 2021
COVID Vaccine

COVID-19: Nigeria records 16 more deaths as it prepares for mass vaccination

March 4, 2021
A gas plant used to illustrate the story [Photo: Africa Invest]

Renewable Energy: Why Africa looks likely to continue relying on fossil fuels

March 4, 2021
Nigeria Correctional Centre Kaduna inmates (Source, folder)

Blood on Uniforms (2): No justice for inmates killed by Nigerian prison officials

March 4, 2021
Next Post
Oil rig used to illustrate the story.

Oil slips again as new coronavirus strain proves ‘nightmare before Christmas’

Abuja Airport

COVID-19: NIS urges travellers to comply with clearance procedures at airports

Discussion about this post

Search

#EndSARS: Latest Updates




Polaris Bank


JAIZ Ad


NITDA Ad





Glo Ad

Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,629,094 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Features
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Markets
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
    • Dubawa NG
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.