The senate is tacitly goading President Muhammadu Buhari to swear in those it screened and subsequently confirmed as Chairman and board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC if he wants quick passage of the agency’s 2019 and 2020 budget estimates which he sent to the red chamber Tuesday.
The senate is insisting that the officials are the only rightful people that can defend the budget of the Commission before its Committee on Niger Delta Affairs. That committee is chaired by the corruption-tainted Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North, PDP).
THEWILL recalls that President Buhari approved a 3-man interim executive for the NDDC, which has been directed to supervise the forensic audit of the agency. The interim executive has Gbene Joi Nunieh as the Acting Managing Director; Cairo Ojougboh, as acting executive director, projects; and Ibanga Bassey, as acting executive director, finance and administration.
However, the Senate urged the president to as a matter of urgency inaugurate the new board, which has Dr. Pius Odubu as Chairman and Chief Bernard Okumagba as Managing Director.
Speaking shortly after reading the letter of President Buhari on the 2019 and 2020 budget estimates of NDDC, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan said that the onus was now on the President to do the needful.
“I believe that the executive arm of government will attend to that quickly so that we have the right people to come and defend the Appropriation request of Mr. President.” Lawan said.
Other senators also spoke in favour of swearing in the approved board.
