The House of Representatives has mandated the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to put on hold the release of fifteen billion counterpart funding requested by the Nigerian government, pending the approval of the Commission’s budget by the House.
The mandate was contained in a Matter Of Urgent Public Importance titled “An Urgent Call To The Niger Delta Development Commission To Put On Hold The Release Of N15 Billion, Requested As Counterpart Funding Of Humanitarian Intervention By The Federal Government.”
Honorable Unyime Idem while moving th moti9nd said, “Aware that the Ministry of Niger Delta was inaugurated and commissioned by the Presidency to attend to intervention and humanitarian needs of the Niger Delta region of the country and promote the physical development of the Niger Delta region.
“Note that since its inauguration, the Ministry of Niger Delta has executed fundamental and important humanitarian intervention projects across the region. Aware that part of the fund available for use by the Commission is money recovered on its behalf by EFCC and given to the Commission, to ease the implementation and its financial obligations. Cognizant that the Nigerian government sent a special request mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta to jointly finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums running into several Billions of Naira using the money recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision.
Also cognizant that the NDDC Budget estimates for 2021 , 2022 & 2023 is before the House for legislative approval. Worried that such request for intervention and humanitarian proposals by the government without requisite financial appropriation and approval by this honourable House is illegal and a breach of the Appropriation Act.
While ruling on the motion, the House mandated the committee on Niger Delta Development Commission to scrutinize such request made by the Nigerian government and report back to the house within 2 weeks.
Confidence Okwuchi
