NDDC Probe: Senate Indicts self, FG, ask IMC to refund N4.9bn
Acting MD NDDC, Pondei, faint during probe by Reps

The Senate has on Thursday, absorbed blame over its inability to carry out effective oversight function on the activities of the Interim Management Committee, IMC of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

This is coming even as the Senate indicted the Federal Government, the IMC for the problems.

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The Senate has also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged financial recklessness.

The Upper chamber also called on the current IMC to refund the N4.923billion it paid to staff and contractors in breach of the procurement process and approvals.

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The Upper Chamber at the moment is deliberating the report of the Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, APC, Ekiti North led Ad-hoc Committee on Investigation of the alleged Financial Recklessness in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

The Senate also recommended that the NDDC should be returned to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for proper supervision.

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READ ALSO: NDDC: Akpabio breaks silence, says senate, Reps most beneficiaries of NDDC contracts

The agency which was formerly supervised by the SGF is now under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, following recent directives by the presidency.

The resolutions of the Senate are sequel to  the  consideration and adoption of the recommendations of its “Ad hoc Committee on the investigation of the alleged financial recklessness in the NDDC.”

In his presentation, Adetunmbi 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.

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“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 the 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 N4.923billion payment to staff and contractors in breach of the procurement process and approvals.

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“Monies to be refunded by the IMC include cost for overseas travel to the United Kingdom in the sum of N85.7million, Scholarships Grants – N105.5million, Union Members trip to Italy – N164.2million, Lassa Fever Kit – N1.96billon, Public Communication – N1.2billion and COVID-19 Relief -N1.49billon.”

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