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NDDC Budget: Senate Says Interim Management Is Illegal, Those Screened, Confirmed Can Defend Budget

Published

6 years ago

November 26, 2019

..Wants Buhari to immediately Swear-in Odubu, Okumagba, other confirmed NDDC board members

The Senate had said that those it screened and subsequently confirmed as chairman and board members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are the only rightful people that will come and defend the budget of the Commission before its Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

The Senate has however urged President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, swear in the Dr. Pius Odubu led NDDC Board.

Recall that the Senate in the first week of this confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for the board of NDDC.

The former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu, was confirmed by the Senate as Chairman of the NDDC Board, just as a nominee from Delta State, Chief Bernard Okumagba, was also confirmed as the NDDC Managing Director

The confirmation followed the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs by its Chairman, Peter Nwaoboshi, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Delta North

Also confirmed were Otobong Ndem who is now the Executive Director, Projects and Maxwell Oko as Executive Director, Finance and Administration.

The Senate had also confirmed Prophet Jones Erue (Delta), Chief Victor Ekhator (Edo), Nwogu Nwogu (Abia), Theodore Allison (Bayelsa), Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom), Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River), Olugbenga Elema (Ondo), Hon. Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo), Aisha Murtala Muhammed (Kano), Ardo Zubairu (Adamawa) and Amb. Abdullahi Bage (Nasarawa).
Only a nominee from Rivers State, Dr. Joy Yimebe Nunieh was not confirmed by the Senate as she did not appear for screening.

Speaking shortly after reading the letter of President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2019 and 2020 budget estimates of NDDC, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan said that the onus was now on the President to do the needful by inaugurating the Dr. Pius Odubu led NDDC following the confirmation by the Upper Chamber in consonnance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The President of the Senate said, ” I believe that the executive arm of government will attend to that quickly so that we have the right people to come and defend the Appropriation request of Mr. President.”

Lawan had read the President’s request at plenary which is contained in a letter dated November 21, 2019 and addressed to him on the approval of the budget proposals for the NDDC.

The letter reads : “Pursuant to Section 18(1) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) (Establishment) Act, I forward herewith, the 2019 and 2020 Budget Estimates of the Niger Delta Development Commission, for the kind consideration and passage by the Senate.

“While I trust that the Senate will consider this request in the usual expeditious manner, Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration”.

After reading the letter, Senate Minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abia South raised a point of Order 43 of the Senate Standing Orders as Amended who reminded the Senate that members of the board of the NDDC were confirmed and yet to resume, warning that the Commission may run into a problem of delayed budget again against the backdrop that nobody will come to defend the budget.

Abaribe who drew the attention of his colleagues to the fact that members of the NDDC board duly confirmed by the Senate were yet to resume official duty, said that the failure of the executive to swear-in members of the board duly confirmed by the Senate sequel to a request from President Buhari, may threaten early consideration and quick passage of the 2019/2020 budget of the NDDC.

According to him, the Interim Committee of the NDDC, led by Joy Nunieh, is an “illegal contraption” that lacks the backing of law to defend the commission’s budget.

Abaribe said: “We just heard from you (Senate President) the communication from Mr President which relates to the presentation of the NDDC’s Budget for approval.

“Of course, what it will mean is that the budget will go to the relevant committee of Appropriation and the NDDC Committee and some persons will come to defend the budget.

“Having regard to the fact that this Senate has confirmed members of the board of the NDDC and they are yet to resume office, Mr. President I fear that we may run into a problem of delayed budget again since nobody will come to defend this budget.

“Because this August body having confirmed the board of NDDC, will not countenance any illegal contraption coming in front of us to say they are representing the NDDC.

“I know that this may be preemptive, but my people say that if we act quick we will prevent disaster from coming.

“So, to prevent a delayed budget for the NDDC, that is helping the region for development, it would be better for us to prevent this issue from coming and let the needful be done.”

Responding, President of the Senate, Lawan who sustained Abaribe’s point of Order, said, “Thank you Minority Leader but because you have come under order 43, this motion is not subject to debate but let me sustain your point of order.

“As far as we are concerned this Senate knows that we have confirmed the request of Mr. President for the board membership of the NDDC and we have communicated that and the next logical thing to do by law is for the appointments of the members of the board to take immediate effect.

“I believe that the executive arm of government will attend to that quickly so that we have the right people to come and defend the Appropriation request of Mr. President.”

Recall that the expired NDDC 2018 budget of N346. 5 billion, N2.883bn was earmarked for capital expenditure, while N311.371bn was approved for development projects just as N19.521bn was for personnel cost and N12. 737bn was approved for overhead expenditure.
Similarly, in 2017, the NDDC got a total of N364 billion as its annual budget out of which the sum of N329.850 billion was approved for capital projects.
It was gathered last week that intrigues and game play within and outside the Niger Delta region as regards the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC contributed strongly to the delay in the presentation of the agency’s 2019 Budget Proposal to the National Assembly.
According to a source, the delay in the presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari may not be unconnected with the power play between forces behind the current Interim Management Committee of the NDDC and those supporting the inauguration of persons already appointed and confirmed as substantive members of the Commission.
The development however reared its head, a month to the end of the year.
Also recall that the National Assembly had with the expiration of the life span of the 2018 budget of the commission in July, raised several queries about the resort to extra budgetary expenditure by the NDDC management and board instead of making genuine efforts towards submitting the 2019 budget proposal for the commission.

It would be recalled that last week Tuesday, the House of Representatives invited the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC for explanation on the non-availability of the Commission’s 2019 budget.

It would be recalled that In spite of the order by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan some weeks ago that the interim committee should immediately give way to those appointed and confirmed as members of the NDDC management and board.

Also recall that even with the tall order from the Senate that after the screening and subsequent confirmation of the Nominees, the Interim board dies immediately, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to act on the confirmation.

Lawan had said after the confirmation of Dr. Pius Odubu as Chairman of NDDC board and his team that “with the completion of this process now (confirmation), I am sure that any other structure that exists now (in NDDC) is vitiated.

”I don’t think we have anything to worry about because this is one thing that is clearly established by law.”

The quagmire has however continue to generate serious concerns among stakeholders in the Oil Producing region.

Recall that the interim Committee was set up by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and he currently manages the commission.

Also recall that Akpabio had said that the three-man committee will oversee the management of the commission to create an “enabling environment” for the audit.

He said Buhari approved the appointment of Dr Gbene Joi Nunieh as the Acting Managing Director; Cairo Ojougboh, as acting executive director, projects; and Ibanga Bassey, as acting executive director, finance and administration.
Akpabio had asked the interim committee to discharge their duties ”without fear or favour”.

He said the outcome of the committee’s work will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the people of the Niger Delta region.

According to the Minister, the Committee will run the NDDC for six months and oversee the forensic audit of the agency.

Following the expiration of the life span of the 2018 budget of the commission last July, the National Assembly had raised several queries about the resort to extra budgetary expenditure by the NDDC management and board instead of making genuine efforts towards submitting the 2019 budget proposal for the commission.

The Committees of the two chambers in charge of the NDDC had in a letter in August drawn the attention of the NDDC management to the provisions of section 80(4) of the Constitution which stipulated that “No money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund except in a manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

Also recall that both committees had in the letter threatened that the National Assembly would not hesitate to invoke its full legislative powers to deal with any infraction of the Constitutional provisions.

The letter with reference number NASS/SEN/HR/2019/VOL.1/003 dated August 5, 2019 and titled ‘Extra Budgetary Expenditure’ was jointly signed by the Chairman of the Senate committee on NDDC, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi and Chairman, House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Olubunmi Ojo.

It read, “The committees on Niger Delta and NDDC of the Senate and House of Representatives respectively, wish to call your attention to the expiration of the 2018 NDDC budget which specifically elapsed on 31st July, 2019.

“Accordingly, you are directed to stop forthwith any spending except for personal Costs and Overhead.

“You may note the provision of section 80(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended) which states that : ‘money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund except in a manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

“Therefore, any expenditure in contravention of this express provision will amount to an illegality and the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its full legislative powers to deal with such infraction of the law.

“In furtherance of the above, you are requested to furnish the committee with the following documents :Summary and comprehensive details of 2018 budget performance showing project description, Allocation, Release, Utilization, Oustanding Balance and other useful information; Statement of all Commission’s accounts (local and domiciary) from January 2018 till date; Information on the procurement processes for all Recurrent Expenditure made by the Commission From January 2018 till date.”

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Bauchi Children Get 1.5 Million Vitamin A To Boost Immune System

Published

11 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Editor

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has supported the Bauchi state government with 1.5 million doses of vitamin A to help build a strong immune system, and healthy growth.

Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, Bauchi stated this on Monday during the flagging off ceremony of the Bauchi State Maternal, Newborn and Child
Health Week (MNCHW).

Represented by Dr Jackson Martins, UNICEF’s Nutrition Officer, Rafique said that UNICEF also supported the state with 47,000 bottles of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to tackle maternal and child mortality.

According to her, vitamin A is a vital micronutrient for child growth and development, emphasising that deficiency at an early age could lead to preventable childhood blindness and significantly increase the risk of death from common illnesses like diarrhea.

“Periodic high-dose vitamin A supplementation is a proven, low-cost intervention that reduces all-cause mortality by 12 to 24 per cent, making it a critical component of efforts to lower child mortality.

“MMS is recommended for pregnant women because many have multiple micronutrient deficiencies that affect maternal health and fetal outcomes.

“We encourage caregivers, mothers, and fathers to take advantage of this opportunity to protect children from preventable diseases and ensure they are well nourished for a healthy and productive life,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board (BSPHDB) said that the MNCH week is a bi-annual event aimed at accelerating actions to promote and contribute to improving Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health indicators in the state.

Represented by Dr. Sufiyan Jibrin, Director, Primary Healthcare, Bauchi, Mohammed explained that the services were primarily delivered to strengthen routine PHC services for pregnant women, mothers, and children aged 0-59 months.

He said during the campaign, children between the ages of 6-59 months would receive vitamin A supplements, deworming for children between 12-59 months, screening for acute malnutrition for 6-59 months, and appropriate referral when malnourished.

One of the women, Aisha Usman, appreciated UNICEF, Bauchi state government and other development partners for bringing the intervention to the women and children in the state.

News

Group Wants Edo AG Professorship Investigated

Published

51 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Editor

Group known as Law Students of faculty of Law, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti have called for an investigation of the professorship title conferred on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Edo State, Professor Roland Otaru (SAN).

In a petition signed by Comrade K. Akanbi, and addressed to the National Universities Commission (NUC), and Council of Legal Education, the group alleged that Otaru may have compromised the authorities of the school to get the title.

The petition dated December 7, 2025, and made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday, the students described the conferment as “a great academic fraud” and called for investigation.

The petition reads: “The said Otaru is a full time private legal practitioner in Ilorin Kwara State who got his PhD in law two years ago from one private University in Ogun State.

“He has neither taught nor examined postgraduate law students anywhere in Nigeria to qualify him for appointment as an Associate Professor of law (Reader), let alone Professor of law.

“It is for this reason that we ask that the circumstances surrounding the alleged conferment of the Professor of law status on Mr. Roland Otaru is investigated and the culprits are brought to book.”

They threatened a week-long protest by mid-January 2026 if the issue was not investigated.

“As law students, we have decided to speak up, because our lecturers who know the truth are afraid of shaking tables.”

However, a source in the Dean of Students office in the school said via telephone that they were not aware of the existence of such a group in the University.

Contacted, Otaru denied the allegation, saying it could be a deliberate attempt to smear his rising profile.

He insisted that he was duly appointed as a Professor by the Senate of the University.

“It is very funny. The Senate of the university conferred it on me, I have a letter to that effect and on that day, I was not the only one, we were about four, it was an approval from the Senate of the University and I delivered the lecture on that day, 9th of December 2024.

“I am a PhD holder. I have two Masters Degrees and I have up to five or six fellowships. I have been a SAN working for the past 20 years so what are they talking about?

“Maybe somebody there engineered it because of my rising profile.

“It is not a fake award, I don’t know what they want but there is no cause for alarm. I have the letter of the award.

“They were there that day, they were there when I delivered the lecture, it was an assemblage of all students in that faculty and I delivered the lecture there. There was no financial inducement, nothing like that, I think it was based on merit.”

News

State Police Key To Tackling Insecurity, Says Gani Adams

Published

58 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Editor

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has declared strong support for the establishment of state police, saying decentralised policing is urgently needed to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

He stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, which was monitored by our correspondent.

Adams said he “totally agrees” with the position of the Southern Governors’ Forum, which recently renewed its call for state police as part of restructuring the country’s policing system.

The leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress also commended South-West governors for taking the lead on the issue.

“Anybody who loves this country will not disagree with state police, considering the situation we have,” he said.

Addressing concerns that state governors may misuse state police against political opponents, Adams said such fears should not overshadow the need to prioritise the protection of lives and property.

“Let us first talk about the protection of life and property, which is the primary responsibility of any government. Partisan politics is secondary,” he stated.

Adams argued that one of the major weaknesses of the current security structure is the deployment of officers who are not familiar with the communities they serve. He stressed that effective policing requires personnel drawn from local environments, who understand the terrain, history and people.

“If people in the community are not allowed to police and secure their area, bringing someone unfamiliar with the environment will make the job very difficult,” he said.

Using his hometown of Arigidi-Akoko in Ondo State as an example, Adams explained that residents possess in-depth knowledge of the community’s history, forest routes, and families that have lived there for generations—information that helps identify criminal elements and trace incidents quickly.

“We know our forests. We know where intruders enter. We know individuals with criminal backgrounds. Community members can provide intelligence that outsiders cannot,” he said.

Adams emphasised that Nigeria, with its three-tier system of government, cannot rely solely on a centralised policing structure.

He maintained that for security to be effective, each tier—federal, state, and local—must be allowed to develop its own police framework.

“There is no way you can run a country with three tiers of governance but only one structure of policing. Without allowing the three tiers to have their own policing structures, you cannot achieve effective security,” he said.

Demands for state policing have intensified in recent months, driven by rising insecurity across the country.

The Southern Governors’ Forum, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and security experts have repeatedly called on the Federal Government to decentralise policing.

Several governors, especially from the South-West, have argued that the centralised Nigeria Police Force is overstretched and unable to respond swiftly to localised security threats.

Regional outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West and vigilante groups in the North have emerged as stopgap measures, further fuelling debate over constitutional restructuring to allow state-controlled police services.

Despite concerns about potential political misuse, advocates insist that decentralised policing is essential for intelligence gathering, quicker response times, and stronger community involvement.

Adams’ comments add to the growing pressure on the Federal Government to adopt state policing as part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s security system.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu had called on the National Assembly to review existing laws to allow states to establish their own police forces, as part of efforts to address rising insecurity across the country.

This was contained in a statement issued on November 26 by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, declaring a nationwide security emergency.

“I call on the National Assembly to begin reviewing our laws to allow states that require state police to establish them,” he said.

The President also added that his “administration will support state governments that have set up security outfits to safeguard their people from terrorists bent on disrupting our national peace.”