President Muhammadu Buhari says
the interim management team of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
will remain until the forensic audit of the agency’s operations is completed.
On November 5, Senate President
Ahmad Lawan said the current management of the commission is void after the
confirmation of the appointment of members of the agency’s board.
He asked the president to
inaugurate the board immediately.
An interim committee set up by
Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta Affairs, currently manages the
commission. The management comprises Joi Nunieh, acting managing director;
Ibanga Bassey, acting executive director, finance and administration, and Cairo
Ojougboh, acting executive director, projects.
The minister had said the
committee will run the NDDC for six months and oversee the forensic audit of
the agency.
But the senate has refused to
recognise Akpabio’s interim management team.
”With the completion of this
process now (confirmation), I am sure that any other structure that exists now
(in NDDC) is vitiated,” Lawan said while commenting on the confirmation of the
nominees to the board of the NDDC.
”I don’t think we have anything
to worry about because this is one thing that is clearly established by law.”
On November 28, the upper
legislative chamber barred members of the interim management from defending the
2020 budget of the commission. It insisted that it would only deal with members
of the board it approved.
But on Thursday, in a statement
by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, the president said the interim
committee will be in place until the end of the forensic audit.
“The President has also directed
that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC shall be in place till the
forensic is completed, and that the supervision of the Commission shall remain
under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs,” the statement read.
Buhari had ordered a forensic
audit of the operations of the commission from 2001 to 2019 owing to
allegations of corruption against it.
The president had expressed his
dissatisfaction, saying the current state of the Niger Delta cannot justify the
huge resources that have been allocated to the NDDC.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com