Niger Delta Governors in Trouble as Senate Summons them over NDDC’s N6.25bn Palliatives
- Niger Delta state governors have been asked to report to the Senate
- The call was made over the fate of the N6.25 billion allegedly spent by NDDC on coronavirus palliatives
- Meanwhile, all senators from the region said they were not aware of this
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In what will surprise many Nigerians, the governors of the nine oil-producing states have been summoned by the Nigerian Senate.
The Senate wants them to appear before it to state what they know about the N6.25 billion.
The money was allegedly spent on COVID-19 palliatives by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2020.
This was disclosed by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, This Day reports.
He said there is a need for governors to come and state what they know about the N100 million NDDC claimed to have given to each of the states as COVID-19 pandemic palliatives last year.
He said:
“We want to know how many governors pocketed these palliative funds. We are aware that over N100million each was given to each state government. That was contained in their verbal submission. We want them to put it in writing. When was this money delivered? How many vehicles were delivered to the governors?
“We would now call the governors to come and account for it because none of the 27 senators from the Niger Delta region is aware of the COVID-19 palliative shared to the governors by the NDDC.
Source: Twitter
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that stakeholders in the Niger Delta have canvassed for investors in the region to invest in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as a catalyst to create employment and ensure global competitiveness.
This was the position canvassed at the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Summit 2021 held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Speaking at the event, the convener of the summit who is also the founder of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) and Niger Delta Young Professionals, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia, noted that the greatest contributory factor to the growth in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a collection of the committed efforts from young people, including youths of the Niger Delta.
Also, Legit.ng reported that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointment of an interim administrator to oversee the affairs of the NDDC.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, and seen by Legit.ng on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
The action of the president signals the end of Kemebradikumo Pondei's era as the boss of the interventionist agency.
In a related development, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an order to investigate Akpabio and the five members of the embattled NDDC interim management committee over allegations of N3 billion contract fraud.
The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, ex-agitators, and the Watchdog for Progressive Ijaw (WPI) have also thrown their weight behind the order.
In suit number ABJ/CS/617/2020, Justice Mohammed, in a ruling on an application by a Civil Society Organisation Forum for Accountability and Good Governance, restrained the affected officials from parading themselves as board members of the NDDC.
Aanu Adegun is a politics and current affairs content editor at Legit.ng with over 7 years of experience in both digital and traditional media. A graduate of English Studies from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, Aanu started his journalism career as a features writer. Aanu, who is also a creative writer has written books and children magazines. He once anchored some specialised pages of a national newspaper. Aanu is also a satirist.
Source: Legit.ng
