There was a heated argument in the Senate on Tuesday, November 26, over the presentation of the 2019/2020 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Herald gathered that Senate President Ahmad Lawan read President Buhari’s letter during plenary while the minority leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, drew the lawmakers’ attention to the fact that the members of the governing board of the agency recently cleared by the upper chamber are yet to be sworn-in.
Abaribe wondered who will appear before the relevant committees of the Senate to defend the proposals.
READ ALSO: Witchcraft Conference: CAN, Pastors, Christians Are Invited
He 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.”
Meanwhile, The Herald reported that the Senate n Tuesday, November 5, confirmed the nomination of a former Edo Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu and Bernard Okumagba as Chairman of the Board and Managing Director respectively of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Senate, rejected the nomination of Dr Joy Nunieh, nominee for Rivers, following her absence at the screening conducted by Senate Committee on Niger Delta