Akpabio, NDDC on collision course with NASS as Buhari announces plan to re-compose board

In a move that may set the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), on collision course with the National Assembly, the NDDC’s Acting Managing Director, Dr. Joi Nunieh, has ordered the Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics to treat budgetary implementation requests for Recurrent and Capital expenditure from the various Directorates, Departments, Units and State Offices for the year 2020.
‘’The Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics is hereby directed to treat budgetary implementation requests (Recurrent and Capital) from the various Directorates, Departments, Units and State Offices for the year 2020’’.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari Buhari has written the Senate, that a new Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be constituted and sent to the National Assembly for confirmation.
According to the letter, the earlier Board duly confirmed by the Senate will be put on hold to allow the Interim Management Team carry out a forensic audit of the Commission.
President Buhari added that a new board will thereafter be constituted after the Interim Team led by Joy Nunieh concludes work on a forensic investigation of the NDDC.
The letter reads: “I write to intimate the Senate of developments concerning the appointment of the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The Senate may wish to note that, after the dissolution of the Board of the NDDC, an Interim Management Team was set up to manage the affairs of the Commission before a new board was composed and sent for Senate confirmation.
“The Senate is invited to note that while the process of composition and Senate confirmation of the appointment of the Board was ongoing, I had directed that the forensic audit of the Commission be carried out, which is being overseen by the constituted Interim Management Team.
“Based on this, and in order to allow for uninterrupted process of the Forensic investigation, the Board appointment confirmed by the Senate has to be put on hold to allow the Interim Team continue to manage the Commission pending the outcome of the Forensic Audit.
“Thereafter, a new Board of the Commission will be recomposed for confirmation by the Senate.”
The nominees on the NDDC board confirmed by the Senate last year and put on hold are: Dr. Pius Odubu, Chairman; Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Managing Director; Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director of Projects; Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director of Finance and Administration; Jones Erue (Delta); Victor Ekhator (Edo); Nwogu N Nwogu (Abia) and Theodore Allison (Bayelsa).
Others are Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom), Maurice Effiwat (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo), Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo), Aisha Muhammed (North West); Shuaibu Zubairu (North East) and Abdullahu Bage (North Central)
Following its disagreement with the Senate in November 2019, after the presidency stopped the resumption of the new board, the Interim Management of the Commission was barred from defending its 2020 budget.
The Intervention Agency chief executive officer in a memo dated 15th January, 2020 said the sum of N80, 881,610,074 was appropriated to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the country’s 2020 Budget.
‘’Please recall that the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (CCFR) has signed into law the Federation’s 2020 Budget (Appropriation Act)’. Also in the approved Budget, the sum of N80,881,610,074 only has been appropriated to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)’’.
President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2019 sent the 2019 and 2020 budget estimates of the agency to the National Assembly for the approval of the federal lawmakers. The National Assembly is yet to pass the 2019 budget of the commission.
THe full memo ŕeads:
From: Ag MD/CEO
To: Director, PRS/MIS
Date: 15th January, 2020
Subject: Implementation of NDDC Budget
The above matter refers.
Please recall that the President and Commander In Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (CCFR) has signed into law the Federation’s 2020 Budget (Appropriation Act).
Also in the approved Budget, the sum of N80, 881,610,074 only has been appropriated to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
It is pertinent to state here that the Commission is an Intervention Agency whose activities are predominantly in the Niger Delta Region with a peculiar and harsh geographical terrain and is greatly influenced by the weather conditions.
In the light of the above, the Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistics is hereby directed to treat budgetary implementation requests (Recurrent and Capital from the various Directorates, Departments, Units and State Offices for the year 2020 while awaiting the approval of the Commission’s budget.
Please comply accordingly.
GBENE (DR) JOI NUNIEH