The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta says the budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will no longer be business as usual.
The Chairman of the committee, Mrs. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu made the remark at the 2025 budget defence session with the Commission.
She snores that the importance of the NDDC budget could not be over-emphasised, “It remains the principal vehicle through which the Federal Government delivers meaningful development to the people of the Niger Delta,
“For our communities, this budget represents hope. opportunity, and the promise of a better quality of life.
“As a Committee, we recognise that our duty goes beyond mere approval; it is our responsibility to subject this budget to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that every allocation translates into tangible outcomes for the people particularly in infrastructure development, human capacity development, youths empowerment and economic inclusion,” Mrs. Ibori-Suenu said.
The Chairman noted that every line item must be purposeful, people-centred, and strategically aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“This budget must speak directly to the aspirations of the Niger Delta people by addressing longstanding developmental gaps, fostering sustainable growth, and ensuring that no community is left behind.
“In line with this commitment, the House Committee on NDDC will continue to offer its unwavering and constructive support to the Commission, while also demanding accountability, transparency, and value for money in the execution of approved projects and programmes,” she added.
In his presentation, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Mr. Samuel Ogbuku, said that the commission has redefined the face of governance in the Niger Delta though effectiveness in driving positive change In the region.
He also said that the commission in 2024 budget was properly utilised.
He announced that the proposed 2025 budget of the commission is pegged at one point seven Trillion naira.
Mr. Ogbuku also said that the 2025 Budget of the commission is tagged “Budget of Consolidation.”
“In line with the promise of the present Management to make the 2025 Budget participatory which is evident of why we are here in Niger Delta region, a new dawn of progress and development is emerging under this present Management as we are defining the standards of governance.
“For the 2025 Budget, our main goal is to strengthen our foundation for sustainable economic growth, marking a snl from transactional to transformational approaches. A key focus is sectoral funding allocation, moving away from line-item budgeting that hindered contractors from resuming projects,” Mr. Ogbuku said.
“The 2025 Budget themed: “Budget of Consolidation’, proposes N1.75 trillion based on revenue assumptions. This represents a 9% decrease from 2024, driven by no-borrowing approach,” he added.
After some questions and answers, the committee went into an executive session.