JUST IN: Akpabio Capitulates, Denies Saying ’60 Percent NDDC Contract Went To NASS’

Following backlashes and ultimatum to substantiate his claims, Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs on Thursday refuted reports that he alleged 60 per cent projects awarded by the corruption-ridden NDDC were given to the National Assembly.

Akpabio, in a letter to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, denied accusing members of the National Assembly of collecting 60 percent of the contracts at the NDDC.

In the letter read on the floor of the House during Plenary by the Speaker, Akpabio claimed that he only made reference to 60 percent during his presentation before the NDDC committee on Monday in response to a question by a member of the committee.

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He said the member had sought to know whether a Medical Director can serve as an Executive Director Project, to which he responded by saying that since 50 to 60 percent of NDDC contracts were medical related, there was nothing wrong in a Medical Director serving in that capacity.

He also said that the Executive Director Project of the NDDC forwarded to him a list of 19 owed contracts which the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC insisted must be paid before the 2020 budget of the commission is passed.

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He also said that the NDDC has jot executed any contract under the 2020 budget since it has not been passed, while the 2019 budget was passed in April and has not been implemented

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila however referred the letter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.