The Nigerian Senate on Thursday, July 23, 2020, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei-led Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission over alleged financial recklessness.
The resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of the recommendations of its ad hoc Committee on the investigation of the alleged financial recklessness in the NDDC.
Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, presented the report.
He said, “In conclusion, the committee noted that it is difficult to find a correlation between Niger Delta community development and cash invested in the zone. Continued cash injection in the Niger Delta challenge issue has not worked under the various IMCs.
“It may be useful at this juncture for the government to intervene by stepping down the EIMC (Executive Interim Management Committee), thereby helping them leave the stage for a properly constituted board with specific mandate to address the pains of the Niger Delta people.”
The committee said that the IMC should be made to refund extra-budgetary expenditure of N4.923 billion payment to staff and contractors in breach of the procurement process and approvals.
Monies to be refunded by the IMC include cost for overseas travel to the United Kingdom in the sum of N85.7 million, scholarship grants – N105.5 million, union members trip to Italy – N164.2 million, Lassa Fever kit – N1.96 billion, public communication – N1.2 billion and COVID-19 relief -N1.49 billion.
Source: SaharaReporters
