The Interim Management Committee (IMC) on Tuesday failed to account for the sum of ₦182 billion while defending the agency’s 2019 budget before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC who appeared with other management officers of the agency had during the explanation of the agency’s budget performance got lost in how the ₦183 billion of the earlier appropriated 2019 budget was expended.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi in his opening remark explained that Chief Executives of agencies of government would have to clearly explain the previous year’s budget performance before new ones are considered.
Read Also: NDDC Blames COVID-19 For Delay In Paying Scholarship Beneficiaries
Also, the 2020 budget proposal which was submitted to the Committee generated fresh discrepancies.
In the appendix page of the proposal, there was a reflection of N260 billion, while the summary page was showing N120 million Naira, whereas, the Senate Committee was supposed to work with figures on the summary page.
When the Chairman of the Committee and some members asked if they could go ahead to approve N120 million, the Managing Director pleaded that he should be given some time to correct the mistake.
The budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission was supposed to run from January to December, hence, the 2020 budget of the agency has been seven months behind schedule.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
