TheNewsGuru

Tag: NDDC

  • NDDC: Sagay wants IMC sacked, governing board inaugurated

    NDDC: Sagay wants IMC sacked, governing board inaugurated

    Following the roiling saga of the large scale fraud, financial recklessness and incompetence of the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, more leaders of the Niger Delta region have questioned the propriety of having the IMC in place and called for its disbandment.

    Giving his view on the saga, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    Speaking with Channels TV, Prof Sagay said: “I will suggest that everybody there should be cleared out so that a permanent board and management can be established in the place that will then be monitored. My view is that everybody should be removed right now.”

    Going further, Sagay questioned the rationale in not putting in place a substantive Board to manage the Commission and supervise the forensic audit, which the president ordered. In his words, “I do not see why forensic auditing cannot take place when you have a regular Board. I don’t see the point in having this temporary (Interim Management Committee) which is an anomaly and which has proved to be a disaster.”

    Niger Delta groups have long called on the president to disband the IMC which was pushed by the Niger Delta Minister Godswill Akpabio to supervise the forensic audit, but which has proven to be a smokescreen for mind boggling stealing and mismanagement. The groups argue that the IMC is illegal since there is no provision for it in the NDDC Act. In October 2019, President Buhari nominated members for the Governing Board of the NDDC, 15 of whom were confirmed by the Senate on November 5, 2019.

    The ongoing investigation by committees of the Senate and House of Representatives has uncovered financial recklessness, abuse of office and incompetence by the IMC in the last eight months since it was appointed.

  • 20 years After: NDDC still stinks of corruption – Gbajabiamila

    20 years After: NDDC still stinks of corruption – Gbajabiamila

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday said 20 years after its creation, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC stinks of corruption.

    The speaker made this assertion while declaring open an investigative hearing on alleged corruption on the government interventionist agency by the committee on NDDC.

    In his words: “the Federal Government of Nigeria created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as an interventionist agency to bridge critical development gaps in a region where years of under-investment in infrastructure and the damage from fossil fuel exploration has had a severely deleterious effect on the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of the people. It was intended that the Commission will begin the long-overdue process of making good on our nation’s obligations to the people of the Niger Delta, from whose lands and waters we have for decades drawn our nation’s sustenance.

    “In the over two decades since, that promise has not been kept. Despite its critical importance and the vast sums that have been appropriated by the Federal Government, the Niger Delta of Nigeria continues to score exceptionally low on many of the major human development indices. These statistics reflect the reality of disease and deprivation, lack of opportunity and broken dreams that is the plight of many of our fellow citizens in the region. It is therefore particularly disturbing and quite frankly, embarrassing that every other news report about the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) seems to centre around escalating allegations of corruption and malfeasance.

    “Our purpose today, and over the cause of this Investigative Hearing, is to ask why this failure persists and to do so with a determination to understand the causes of that failure so that we can act to redeem the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and remove those factors that imperil the Commission’s noble mission. We will examine the allegations of corruption and malfeasance that have dogged the Commission. We will do so with neither fear nor favour, confident in the assurance that we have both a constitutional duty and moral obligation to ensure that the enormous sums of money appropriated to the NDDC over the years are appropriately accounted for by those whose responsibility it has been to manage this important and all too essential public trust.

    “The success of this present assignment will depend in no small extent on the willingness of the various stakeholders in the Commission, within Government and in the local communities to cooperate with the Committee, by providing material evidence in the form of documents or witness testimony. I encourage all the stakeholders to consider this investigative hearing as a last-ditch effort to save the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and to engage with this Committee in a patriotic partnership to break the jinx of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta region.

    “Mr Chairman, Honourable colleagues, as you take on the responsibility of this critical national assignment, the eyes of a nation are upon you, and the reputation of this 9th House is in your hands. I am confident of your ability to meet the high expectations we have of you and I assure you of the steadfast support of the House of Representatives. I wish you fruitful deliberations, as I declare this Investigative Hearing open, to the glory of God and in service of the Nigerian people.

  • N70.4bn Fraud: Reps Summon NDDC’s Ex-EDs, Commissioners

    N70.4bn Fraud: Reps Summon NDDC’s Ex-EDs, Commissioners

    The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee yesterday summoned all executive directors and commissioners of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged N70.495,993,761 billion being contracts fund awarded to 1,723 contractors who allegedly absconded without execution of projects

    The former commissioners and executive directors have been directed to honour the summons not later than seven days from yesterday.

    Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke, who issued the summons, accused the ex-commissioners and executive directors of flouting the provisions of the appropriation act, 2011 and the 1999 Constitution by approving over inflated contracts and making over payments to the affected contractors.

    Oke also accused bank chief executives of fraudulently raising advance payment guarantees for the contractors. Consequently, the committee demanded from the act ing managing director of the NDDC, Prof. Meme Pondei, to furnish it with the details of all the 1,723 contractors and the projects awarded to them between 2011 and 2012.

    The committee chairman alleged that the officials contravened the law and threatened that he would recommend to the president for the ex-commissioners and executive directors to be banned from holding public office. He said: “We won’t allow such behaviour to go unpunished. Some people have intentionally raped and violated the provisions of the appropriation act and the 1999 Constitution”. Speaking at the hearing, the acting managing director, Prof. Meme Podei, said that most of the expenditure in the contracts were made after the late passage of the commission’s annual budgets.

    He admitted that the officials had flouted the laws and demanded that the committee give him four weeks to comply with the directives. In his submission, the executive director (projects monitoring), Dr. Cairo Ojuogboh, said that the contractors were mobilised without work done.

    He added that 90 per cent of the contracts were awarded between 2011 and 2012, adding that there was excess payment made by the agency was more than the value of work done.

    Other committee members of the committee at the investigation expressed dismay at the level of cor-ruption at the agency, saying the amount involved in the fraud was humongous. Those who spoke included Hon. Mark Gbillah(APC, Benue) and Hon. Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa).

    Meanwhile, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), yesterday, snubbed the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, investigating the alleged illegal sack of some staff of the Commission between February and May this year.

  • NDDC: Rep tells Buhari to enlarge IMC

    NDDC: Rep tells Buhari to enlarge IMC

    …says as presently constituted both states have no representation,

    ..so far we have been marginalised in projects distribution due to non-inclusion in the cttee

    A member representing Ukwa East West Federal Constituency, of Abia State, Hon Uzoma Nkem-Abonta on Monday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to enlarge the Interim Management Committee, IMC of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to accommodate Abia and Imo states.

    The fourth timer in the House of Reps, in a chat with Thenewsguru.com, TNG, said his state, Abia and Imo have been grossly marginalised as they have no voice in the present configuration of IMC.

    He explained that”I have seen the publications of most payments made by IMC and all the emergency contracts all paid for, visibly not included remains Abia and Imo.

    “The two states are oil producing though with small production quota nevertheless are being marginalised.

    ”
    The IMC as constiitutted leaves the both states without representation, therefore making the state vulnerable and nobody to speak for the states at board meetings where monies and projects are shared and paid.

    “No wonder in the long list of over 80 billion naira purportedly spent both states were not accommodated.

    “Curiously, the budget 2019 that was selectively performed the states in question lacked and disadvantaged as nobody in the board to select or speak on their behalf.

    “The scramble for payments and contract distribution left the states with little or nothing.

    “Curiously again, both states share similar peculiarities having one local government producing oil that is Ukwa Federal Constituency in Abia and Ohaji/Egbema Federal Constituency in Imo state.

    “Both local governments suffer terrible poor inclusion in project sharing.

    “This is an appeal to Mr President to include both states for the sake of equity.

  • COVID-19, NASS responsible for delay in scholarship payments – NDDC

    COVID-19, NASS responsible for delay in scholarship payments – NDDC

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has attributed the delay in meeting its obligations to the beneficiaries of its 2019 postgraduate foreign scholarship programme to the lockdown created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the inquest by the National Assembly.

    The NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili in a statement in Port Harcourt said the commission was making concerted efforts to effect the required payments.

    He said contrary to claims in some quarters, the NDDC had not abandoned the scholars describing them as the commission’s ambassadors.

    He said: “We are doing everything possible to make sure that the beneficiaries of the scholarship progamme are paid. We have done all the paper work required for the transfer of the funds. The delay in remitting the payments may have been as a result of some bottlenecks at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

    “The commission has no intention whatsoever to abandon the scholars who are our ambassadors. We are, therefore, doing everything possible to make sure that the beneficiaries of the scholarship progamme are paid.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown created the problem for the Commission to meet this obligation. Moreover, the current inquest by the National Assembly has not given the commission ample time to work. However, the processes for payment have gone far and the students will be made to smile in the quickest possible time.

    “The NDDC foreign scholarship scheme started in 2010, with the objectives to bridge the gap in the management cadre of the oil and gas sector of the Niger Delta region; address the dearth of professional human capital and capacity among the youths and prepare them for leadership and management positions in the oil and gas sector.

    “Till date, some 1,634 youths have been trained under the scheme, who turn out as better qualified youths armed to bring new learning to bear in different sectors of the Niger Delta economy.

    “We want to restate our determination to promote quality education for the people of the Niger Delta region. The stakeholders of the region should disregard unfounded allegations that the students were abandoned.”

  • NDDC: Don’t sweep former MD’s allegations under the carpet – Reps

    NDDC: Don’t sweep former MD’s allegations under the carpet – Reps

    …insist Akpabio can’t investigate himself

    …he should step aside for a thorough probe

    …2 immediate past MD’s of NDDC should appear before reps panel

    …there is need for the commission to return to presidency

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Some members of the House of Representatives on Sunday said the allegations raised by the former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Joy Nunieh should not be swept under the carpet.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that apparently peeved by the weighty allegations raised by the immediate past MD of the government agency, some lawmakers feel it’s appropriate to further probe into the matter.

    Recall that last Friday, Nunieh spoke to the press and vividly gave account of how the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has been running the commission as a sole administrator, arm twisting directors to do his bidding.

    Akpabio in a national television programme also bared his mind advising the former MD to go and seek medical aid as she was not fired because of corruption but insubordination.

    Some lawmakers that spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity were unanimous in their verdict demanding for a further probe of the allegations raised by Nunieh.

    One of such lawmakers from the South South geo-political zone simply told TNG that “Akpabio should step aside so that a proper probe can be conducted because he can’t be a Judge in his own matter.

    “Akpabio should submit himself for investigation and there is no way we can allow all these allegations raised against him to be swept under the carpet.

    Another lawmaker from the South West geo-political zone said ” this matter has gone beyond mere semantics, the Minister can’t wave aside these accusations with a wave of the hand as he can’t audit himself rather he should step aside for an independent probe into the affairs of the commission.

    “The issues raised against him by an MD he single handedly appointed can’t be thrown into archival dustbin just like that, no way,” he insisted.

    A lawmaker from the North Central geo-political zone of the country in his reaction asked that the last two immediate past MDs of the commission must appear before the House panel alongside directors of the commission.

    “What Joi really said should not be swept under the carpet, it calls for concern and should be thoroughly investigated.

    “The House committee on NDDC through the motion passed by the House invited the NDDC for an investigative hearing of the activities of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) within one year.

    “It is also on a good note that the committee spent 82billion naira in 6months. Durng COVID, more than 40billion got paid out. While we are supporting the forensic to go on, it must not go on a snail speed.

    “It must not go on a snail speed and our worry is, can you investigate yourself. Akpabio is the minister regulating NDDC and he is also the chairman of presidential monitoring team, he has also been accused of a lot of things. He also handpicked the audit committee, there is a sharp conflict of interest.

    “We are worried wondering why the NDDC will not go back under presidency according to the Act, it shouldn’t be under that ministry. So what we are now is saying that Akpabio should even step down for a thorough investigation and that he should face the House committee for the investigation, they shouldn’t shy away.

    “We are also of the opinion that the last two immediate past MDs of NDDC should be involved, should be invited while we take account of Nunieh seriously. If she lied she would be made to suffer for lying. The bottom line is that Akpabio should submit himself for investigation. NDDC books should be made open then the truth will come out.

    “It wasn’t even the president that removed Nunieh, it was Abba Kyari and Akpabio that removed her because she refused to play ball, that is the truth.

  • Ex-NDDC Boss clarifies Keyamo’s involvement in water hyacinth contract

    Ex-NDDC Boss clarifies Keyamo’s involvement in water hyacinth contract

    The former acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joy Nunieh, has absolved the former Minister of State for NDDC, Festus Keyamo, of involvement in the controversial water hyacinth contract.

    She made the clarification in Abuja on Friday after appearing before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the operations of the commission.

    Nunieh, however, insisted that the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio got a total of 30 water hyacinth contracts from the NDCC shortly after he was inaugurated as minister.

    “I can tell the world that Godswill Akpabio got 30 contracts to clear water hyacinth in the Niger Delta region shortly after he was inaugurated as minister.

    “The then Minister of State, Festus Keyamo, was however not involved in the said contract and there are documents to show how the contracts were given.

    “No contract is awarded and or payment made in the NDDC without the knowledge of Godswill Akpabio.

    “I stand by everything I said at the National Assembly and I want Nigerians to know that I was removed from the NDDC because I refused to swear an oath of loyalty to Godswill Akpabio.

    “I also refused to do his biddings and that led to serious disagreement between the two of us. I stood my ground and refused to use my position as MD to satisfy the financial gluttony of Godswill Akpabio and that was why he removed me from office.”

  • Akpabio bombs ex-NDDC MD, opens can of worms on corruption allegations

    Akpabio bombs ex-NDDC MD, opens can of worms on corruption allegations

    The Minister of Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Friday night clarified major controversies surrounding the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) before, during and after his appointment as minister.

    The minister also absolved himself of serial corrupt practices made against him by the NDDC’s former Managing Director, Ms. Joy Nunieh.

    TheNewsGuru.com TNG reports Nunieh in a short viral video alleged that during her brief tenure at the commission, Mr Akpabio repeatedly pressured her to take “an oath of secrecy” that was meant to keep her from exposing fraud at the commission.

    The former MD who was relieved of her appointment after confrontation with the minister, said: “For instance, he told me to raise a memo to fraudulently award emergency contracts for flood victims in the Niger Delta. I would have been jailed if I had succumbed to Akpabio’s ‘oath of secrecy.”

    Meanwhile the minister insisted that the rots in NDDC did not start today but dates back to the inception of the commission in 2001. The former governor of Akwa Ibom insisted that endemic corruption, lack of patriotism and the entrenched culture of patronage had crippled the NDDC from delivering its mandate to the people of the region in the last 19 years of its operations, hence the decision to by the federal government to commission forensic audit into the commission’s operations between 2001 and 2019.

    Akpabio who spoke Friday night on Arise TV explained that the report of the forensic audit would be ready before the end of the year.

    Defending his decision to reposition the commission, the minister alleged that the NDDC had failed to deliver to the people of the region almost two decades after its operation.
    For 19 years, the minister alleged that nothing “can be seen on ground in the NDDC because of corruption and because people see it as a place for patronage. For 19 years, NDDC could not even buy a house they could use as an office.”

    Asked to explain the factors responsible for the failure of the NDDC, Akpabio claimed that the commission “had been a place for election matters before he assumed office. If you want to contest elections, all you need is to get into the NDDC; make money there and contest elections.

    “Unfortunately, so many that made the money never won elections. They did not win the election because they contested with blood money. If the previous managing directors and chairmen of NDDC used the right contractors or have love for the region, they could have done far better.”

    He lamented that the NDDC “has existed for 19 years. No one can pass through the Warri-Sapele road every year when it is raining. It is just 45 kilometres. It is a road we can award to fantastic company and people will say this is the NDDC road.

    “If you do not love your children, you cannot give them the best. If you bring in those who do not love the region, they move their pocket forward instead of moving the region forward. I do not care about any allegation.
    “What I care about is that things cannot remain the same again. In less than eight months, we have moved the managing director and other executive directors to the permanent site. It is an 18-storey building. It is totally finished. But it is 96 percent complete. Under 18 months, that is a will.

    “What has happened in the NDDC is the people go there to steal the NDDC. If they attempt to steal the NDDC, then it means there will be no benefit for the people of Niger Delta.
    “But they are paying N300 million annually as rent in the place they are using as an office in Port Harcourt. There was a building started under Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission (OMPADEC). Yet, they could not complete it.

    “When I was appointed the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, I prayed to God. I asked God to give me the ability to take insults that will come my way. At the same time, I asked God to give me the wisdom to turn around the Niger Delta.

    “Of course, I expected all these things coming my way. If you place a seed, that seed must first die before it germinates. The NDDC must go through this process before it stands. We must give kudos to the president.”
    Besides the proliferation of corrupt practices, the minister also identified paucity of funds as NDDC’s major challenge. He said the commission “needs more than what it is presently getting.”

    He acknowledged that NDDC’s previous chairmen and managing directors “tried their best. I believe they tried their best in their own way. Unfortunately, because of paucity of funds, they could not make much impact.”
    On the forensic audit, the minister disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari specifically said when he assumed office that it would not be business as usual again in the commission.
    He added that this resolve explained why all the governors of the nine states “agreed that we should undertake forensic study.

    “The NDDC started in 2000. But its operation commenced in 2001. The audit would cover a period between 2001 and 2019. So, you do not expect those who have been eating fat, even the staff members to be happy with it.

    “The report of the forensic audit has not been made public because we are yet to visit state offices. Just last Wednesday, I approached the FEC and prepared the memo for the forensic auditors, who are going to the state. The forensic audit will be completed before December 2020 no matter the allegations.”

    On the corruption allegations against him, Akpabio advised the former acting managing director “to go to the hospital; see a doctor; get some injection and relax.”
    Asked whether Nunieh was sick, he said: “I am not saying anything is wrong with her. But something is wrong with her temperament. You do not need to ask me. But you ask about four other husbands she married.

    “She was not relieved of her appointment because of corruption. But she was relieved of her appointment because of insubordination. My ministry that supervised her wrote seven letters to her. She never responded. And then she said she was bigger than the Minister of Niger Delta.

  • What I know about NDDC’s ‘reckless spending’ of N40bn – Akpabio

    What I know about NDDC’s ‘reckless spending’ of N40bn – Akpabio

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has denied collecting N500 million for projects in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He said this on the second day of a hearing probing how the commission squandered N40 billion within a few months.

    The Senate had on May 5 set up a seven-member committee to investigate the “financial recklessness” of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission.

    The lawmakers said within the last three months, the commission has spent over N40 billion of the commission’s fund without recourse to established processes of funds disbursement.

    Mr Akpabio and other delegates from the NDDC appeared before the committee on Friday. His statement is in reaction to allegations made against him by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Peter Nwabaoshi.

    Mr Nwabaoshi had in June accused the minister of collecting contracts worth N500 million from the NDDC in 2017 alone without execution.

    The projects include fencing the Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District at the cost of N200 million, fencing of Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene (Old site) Akwa North-West Senatorial District for N100 million and entrepreneurship training on the use of modern farming implement (Youth) in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District at the cost of N75 million.

    Others are entrepreneurship training on the use of modern farming implements (Women) in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District at the cost of N75 million and renovation of one hostel facility at the University of Nsukka, Nsukka Campus at the cost of N50 million.

    Although Mr Nwabaoshi said he granted Akpabio’s request as Chairman of the Senate Committee during the 8th Senate when he (Akpabio) made the request, the minister said otherwise.

    Addressing journalists after the hearing, Mr Akpabio said he “must have made a recommendation when he was still a senator in 2017 that they should consider these (projects) but they were not considered.”

    “Those jobs were not paid, not one naira was paid and when you make a recommendation, it is not that you are being given a contractor; it is that if there is a job in your constituency when they are going through ‘due process’ they will advertise that job and that will awarded to the one that wins the bid.

    “It is not that when a senator makes a suggestion to an agency – whether it is NEMA, NDDC – that the senator will automatically become the contractor. For the fact that the paper was written on the minority leader’s letter-headed paper shows that it was not an award of contract.

    “Award of contract would have been on a NDDC paper so when I saw it, I didn’t think it was worth responding to and as minister of the federal republic of Nigeria, I owe the national but good service.”

    The allegation, he said, was not worth responding to as it “was total falsehood.”

    “I have been a contractor at NDDC. Even if the suggested projects were N300 million or N500 million were accepted, there is no guarantee that I or my nominee would have been a contractor,” he added.

    With regards to the N40 billion which the committee is investigating, the minister said no money is missing. This is because the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hosts the accounts of the NDDC and so N40 billion cannot be taken without it being known.

    “The contractors that were paid, according to the management, were contractors owed debts going back to nine years, some 11 years. When you inherit a commission, you inherit the liabilities and the assets.

    “They had no option because of garnishee orders, people have gone to court, some have even died. It couldn’t have come to the minister because the threshold of the management is below N250 million. My job was to come here and also listen because it will help me to know what they are spending.”

    Earlier, Mr Akpabio told the panel that he has approved only one project since he became a minister and that is the COVID-19 intervention.

    He said he had no knowledge about any expenditure or gave any approval during the tenure of the last Interim Management Committee.

    The solution to the problem of NDDC, he said, is the forensic audit as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Friday’s hearing is the last of the two-day event. So far, revelations have emerged ranging from how lawmakers hijacked the NDDC’s budget over the years to how the commission used N1.5 billion to care for its staff.

    The panel is expected to submit its final report to the Senate on another legislative day.

  • Senate President: Allegations of financial recklessness in NDDC unacceptable

    Senate President: Allegations of financial recklessness in NDDC unacceptable

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the allegations of financial recklessness and misappropriation of funds leveled against the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are unacceptable hence the decision by the Senate to investigate the activities of the Commission.

    Lawan stated this in a speech delivered on Thursday to declare open an investigative public hearing by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Alleged Financial Recklessness in the Niger Delta Development Commission.

    The Senate President who underscored the need for the prudent application of public funds by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government (MDAs), emphasised that same had become imperative in view of scarce income at the disposal of the Federal Government.

    “Financial recklessness is not an attribute that anyone can afford, whether rich or poor. It is even worse with the poor, or for the organisation or a country with limited resources.

    “This is the reason we have always highlighted the need for prudence in the application of public resources. The time when public resources is seen as nobody’s resources is long gone. We are in trying times, when we all have to be concerned about judicious use of scarce incomes.

    “The NDDC is an important statutory agency that is supposed to improve the lot of the Niger Delta community. It is therefore unacceptable to hear about inappropriate use of resources, or outright financial recklessness,” Lawan said.

    According to the Senate President, the weighty allegations of misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N80 billion by the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC prompted the upper chamber to investigate the Commission.

    While urging stakeholders present at the hearing to cooperate with the Ad-Hoc Committee, Lawan assured the public of the Senate’s commitment to fairness and transparency in the discharge of its constitutional responsibility.

    “This Senate is a responsive Senate, and it was partly the reason we made up this all-important committee in our sitting on Tuesday, 5th May 2020 to investigate the Alleged Financial Recklessness at the NDDC.

    “I am happy the ad hoc committee has made excellent progress by requesting and receiving vital information from identified stakeholders.

    “This public hearing should further help the committee get more information, to enable them to come to a pleasant conclusion on the facts on ground, before reporting back to the Senate.

    “I have trust in the ability of this committee to do the right thing, but I add that you all have to cooperate with them and be open-minded and frank with your submissions.

    “The Senate will be fair to all. Our aim is to get all evidence, to make excellent decisions, to benefit the citizens. Your cooperation is therefore very important”, the Senate President added.

    Chairman of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee investigating financial recklessness in the NDDC, Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi (APC – Ekiti North), in his welcome address said the panel in line with its mandate, seeks “to holistically investigate all financially related allegations, mismanagement and misappropriation and the breach of the extant procurement processes as enshrined in the public procurement Act 2007.”

    The lawmaker added that, “the exercise is not aimed at witch-hunting any individual, groups, persons or institutions, but to rather get at the root of the matter, that will aid in repositioning the NDDC to effectively deliver on the mandate on which it was established, to block leakages of financial mismanagement as well as promote the effective utilization of its resources for the overall development of the people of the Niger Delta region.”