The Senate on Thursday placed restriction on the interim management of the Niger Development Development Commission (NDDC) and asked it not to act and or take decisions for the commission.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan announced the bar following plans by the interim management to appear before the Upper Chamber to defend the agency’s 2020 budget.
Buhari had on Tuesday submitted to the Senate the 2020 budget estimates of the NDDC.
Buhari’s letter read: “Pursuant to Section 18(1) of the Nigerian Delta Development Commission Establishment Act, I forward herewith 2019/2020 budget estimates of the Niger Delta Development Commission for the kind consideration and passage by the Senate.
“While hoping that the Senate will consider this request in the usual expeditious manner, please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
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But the Senate refused to honour the President’s request because, according to the Upper Chamber, original members of the governing board of the NDDC that were constituted were yet to be inaugurated.
However, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, had earlier made appointment of a three-man Interim Management Committee of NDDC.
But the Senate said the minister’s action was illegal because it did not follow due process.
Instead, the Senate confirmed the NDDC Governing Board sent to it by Buhari, with Pius Odubu as chairman, and Bernard Okumagba as Managing Director, respectively.
Others are Executive Director Projects, Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director Finance and Administration, Maxwell Okoh from Bayelsa State, Delta State representative, Prophet Jones Erue; Victor Ekhator (Edo) and Nwogu Nwogu (Abia), Theodore Allison, representing Bayelsa State, Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River); Olugbenga Elema (Ondo), andUchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo).
Also, others confirmed for zonal positions were the Northeast representative, Ardo Zubairu from Adamawa state, Ambassador Abdullahi Bage from Nasarawa State to represent the North Central zone as well as Aisha Murtala Muhammed, from Kano State, to represent the Northwest Zone.
While barring the interim committee, Lawan said the committee was not screened and confirmed by the Senate.
The Senate Committee on NDDC should ensure that only the 15 member Governing board forwarded to the Senate by Mr President, screened and approved by us, should be related with as far the budget of the agency is concerned and other official matters,” he said.
“I want to also reiterate here that you (Senate Committee on NDDC) deal with the governing board this Senate has approved,” he said.
Consequently, the Senate has directed the matter to the Senate Committee on NDDC for further legislative action.
