The Nigerian Senate ad-hoc committee has begun the holistic investigation into alleged unauthorized spending by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Sights & Sounds
Chairman of the committee Senator Yusuf Yusuf expressed dissatisfaction with Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon-Umana during an interactive investigative hearing on the NDDC for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.
The Minister and his team appeared before the ad-hoc committee at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
While making his clarification on alleged reckless spending, Okon-Umana explained that the reason for the delays in submitting its budgets and audited accounts to the National Assembly was due to some factors.
Scrutinizing the ministry, some of the committee members said it was a breach of the constitution for the NDDC to carry out expenditure of the budget estimates without approval of the National Assembly.
Responding to the committee on the financial records on the expenditures of the commission, the minister said that it was not in his capacity to know if the NDDC was exceeding its budget, but was in the capacity of the account officer of the commission to know so.
In his concluding remarks, the committee chairman said while the committee would cooperate with the commission to actualize its mandates, the lawmakers won’t hesitate to stand against abnormalities.
The Senate had earlier stood down consideration of the NDDC 2023 budget and requested further information and clarifications on the financial activities of the NDDC for 2021 and 2022 budget estimates before it was later passed.
SPEAKERS
Sen. Yusuf Yusuf-Committee Chairman
Umana Okon-Umana-Minister of Niger Delta Affairs
Sen. Seriake Dickson-Bayelsa West
Sen. Uche Ekwunife-Anambra Central
