NDDC: Senate queries N1.121bn spent by IMC on public communication
THE Senate has raised the alarm over the N1.121 billion spent by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on Public Communication. According to the senate, the expenditure record for public communication was put at N2.1billion in the reports of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showing an under declaration in the NDDC figure.
Meanwhile, National Youth Leader, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, yesterday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate without any further delay, the new board of the NDDC, previously screened and confirmed by the Senate, to check the highhandedness of the Minister of Niger Delta Affiars, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
This came as former National Chairman of Traditional rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, His Majesty King Charles Botu, Paramount ruler of Seimbiri Kingdom, Burutu LGA, Delta State and National Director, Media and Publicity of Host Communities Producing Oil and Gas in Nigeria, HOSCON, Okakur Whisky, have called for the sack of Akpabio over allegations of financial recklessness at the , NDDC. In another development, a House of Representatives member, Mr Francis Waive, said the Niger Delta region was not getting enough from her resources, noting that unless the ethnic nationalities come together and forge a formidable front, the region would continue to be exploited by both the political class and other regions.
The Upper Chamber, which took a swipe at the Interim Management Committee, IMC of the NDDC on the sharp variation in the figures expended on Public Communication, said that the IMC under IMC-1 spent N17 million on media outreach while the Expanded Interim Management Committee, EIMC, of the NDDC spent a more significant amount of N1.1billion. The disclosure is contained in the report of the Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (APC, Ekiti North) led Ad-hoc Committee that investigated alleged financial recklessness to the tune of N40 billion in the NDDC by the IMC.
According to document obtained by Vanguard, the report said, “The analysis of this expenditure heading found that almost 55 percent of the NDDC disbursement on Public Communication was to a company called, ‘ Clear Point Communication’, the next 27 percent to Patrick Oke and Associates being a quarterly installment of contract due.
“The Senate Ad-hoc Committee requested clarification from the NDDC management on the specific nature of work being done by these two organisations and the major differences in the consultancy works. The response from the Executive Director, Project, EDP, did not particularly address the question, rather he explained that the contract existed before they took over from the IMC-1. He also explained that these payments were historical debt owed to the companies, which were on the verge of taking a legal action against the NDDC. The Senate Committee’s view is that this expenditure is extra budgetary and therefore, must be refunded.
“ The huge contracts seen on Public Communication cannot be justified as value for money. The allegations made by some activitists also suggest a likely case of over bloated invoicing. These contracts are highly recommended to be reviewed further for intent and performance. In addition, the contracts must be subjected to comparative industry standards to justify the pricing.”
The Senate has raised the alarm following the N570 million the NDDC spent on training, where the sum of N143 million was paid individual members of staff on April 1, 2020, to attend a budget participatory conference. The report stated, “Incidentally, this period happened to be during the COVID- 19 lockdown, it is obvious that the conference was not attended as the country was on absolute lockdown. This sum must therefore, be refunded by staff concerned.
This payment was made to five staff averaging almost N28 million per person. “N171 million to train over 300 drivers, individual staff were paid in cash for this training on February 3, 2020, to attend the driver training course. Making cash payments to individual staff seems to be a standard practice at NDDC. This custom is not only unethical, it lacks transparency and accountability. NDDC must do away with this practice as a way of improving its duty on stewardship. “ N150 million to sponsor union executive members to attend a training in Turin, Italy.
These sums were paid to union members on April 3, 2020, to attend an international labour organisation conference in Turin, Italy. Incidentally, this period also happens to be during COVID-19 lockdown, it is obvious that the beneficiaries of these payments could not travel out of the country as a result of the Covid- 19 travel restriction, hence, this sum must be refunded by the Union members concerned.” Vanguard
