More troubles for NDDC as Reps summon Akpabio, board members over allegation of spending without appropriation

The House of Representatives has ordered another round of investigation into the activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over allegations of spending without approval of its budget by the National Assembly.

The House has therefore invited the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the board of the NDDC to explain the alleged unapproved spending.

The decision of the House is sequel to a motion by a member, Benjamin Kalu at the plenary on Tuesday, calling for an investigation of the alleged “failure and refusal” by the NDDC to submit its budget for 2019 to the National Assembly for approval.

The House mandated the House Committee on the NDDC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of the commission and report back within four weeks.

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The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, while speaking before the motion was put to voice vote, said: “I really do not want to believe that the NDDC will be making expenditure without appropriation. Sometimes, it is an indictment on the House itself.”

The resolution of the House is coming days after a joint committee of the National Assembly on the NDDC summoned the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris and 17 local and international oil companies over their refusal to remit over N1 trillion to the Federal Government.

It would also be recalled that there had been controversies with the transfer of the control of the NDDC from the Presidency to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on the request of Akpabio and the constitution of a three man interim board by the minister, while the screening of board members sent to the National Assembly was ongoing.

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