The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) received a budget of N1.911 trillion for 2024 from the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, had to contend with the follies of the senators who contributed to the motion’s general principles.
Less than 12 hours after the public hearing on the budget, during which NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku appeared to defend the budget, the committee’s chairman, Senator Ekpenyong Asuquo of the Cross River South Senatorial District, turned in his report.
After pointing out flaws in the report, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan questioned why the agency’s budget performance for 2023 was improperly evaluated prior to the 2024 budget being approved in accordance with legislative custom.
Read Also: Nigerian Senate approves N98.5bn FCT Supplementary Budget
Adopting a plan without first looking into how the previous year’s budget was implemented in order to support a new proposal, according to him, amounts to process abuse.
Olamilekan questioned, “What is the basis for the proposal for 2024 based on, given that the performance of the 2023 budget is not mentioned?”
Senator Adamu Aliero responded in a similar manner, stating that the NDDC had suggested borrowing N1 trillion in the budget proposal—a sum that, in my opinion, is not included in the borrowing plan.
The NDDC’s budget is greater than the combined budgets of two states, he added, but the impact has not been felt. He warned that the organisation is a product of necessity and that the funds appropriated must be used to serve the interests of the people.
