Reps Summon Akpabio, NDDC Board Over Non-Submission Of Budget

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over failure to present its 2019 budget to the National Assembly in violation of the NDDC Act.
The House mandated the committee to invite the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio and the board of the commission over the refusal of the commission to submit the budget 14months after expiration.
The decision followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) on Tuesday during plenary.
Kalu in his motion accused the commission of making expenses in contravention of the provisions of the 1999 constitution, particularly section 80 (3, 4), adding that within this period, the commission awarded contract of over N10billion without the approval of the National Assembly.
“As at today, more than 13 months after the time required by law, the Commission is yet to submit an estimate of its expenditure and income for the year 2019, thereby grossly failing to comply with the aforementioned statutory provision, by which the budget estimates should have been presented to the House before September 30, 2018.”
He revealed further that the House Ad hoc committee which investigated the commission discovered 250 phony contracts without due process.