UPDATED: BREAKING: Buhari Sends Letter To Senate On Reconstitution Of NDDC Board After Forensic Audit

President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded a fresh letter to the Senate, remaining the red chamber that the re-composition of the board of the the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) would be done after the forensic audit of the commission.

In the letter read on the floor of the senate on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary by President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, President Buhari said that the re-composition would be done immediately after the Interim Management Committee had completed its audit oversight of the interventionist agency.

The President said that he would after the Audit work, present to the Senate the list for the board.

The letter dated 27th December, 2019 and reportedly received 11th January, 2020 read: “I write to intimate the Senate of the development concerning the appointment of the board of NDDC.

“The Senate may wish to note that after the dissolution of the board of 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 on-going.

“I had  directed that the forensic audit of the commission be carried out which is being overseen by the constituted interim management  team. “Based in this and in order to allow for uninterrupted process of  forensic investigation, the board appointment confirmed by the Senate  has to be put on hold.

“This is 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 re-composed for the confirmation by the Senate.

“Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the Assurances of My highest consideration.”, the President’s letter concluded.

Recalls that President Buhari had in December, 2019 approved that the Board of the NDDC be recomposed and inaugurated after the forensic audit of the commission.

The President had also then directed that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC shall be in place till the forensic is completed, Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, (Media and Publicity) said in a statement.

BIGPEN Online understands that the new letter to the senate followed the refusal of the senate to allow the 2020 budget defence of the NDDC scale through until a new board is reconstituted.

The Senate had in November 2019 barred the Interim Management of the Commission led by Dr. Joi Nunieh from defending the agency’s 2020 budget.