SENATE PASS NDDC BUDGET OF N453.200BILLION
Caroline Ameh
The Nigerian Senate has passed the Niger-Delta Development Commission NDDC budget of N453.200billion for 2020.
The passage of the budget is sequel to the presentation of the report by the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs during plenary Monday, at the special session held in the Senate.
The report presented by Gombe South Senator, Amos Bulus, on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Peter Nwaboshi, among other things recommends the extension of the implementation of the NDDC budget to elapse in 31 March, 2021 to ensure adequate utilization of the financial releases.
On the NDDC budget for 2020, Bayelsa West senator, Seriake Dickson hailed the Senate for doing away with the controversial Interim Management Committee IMC, but expressed concerns that instead of a substantive Board for the Commission, what now exists is a sole administrator.
In his ruling, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, charged the Executive to ensure prompt submission of the NDDC budget for 2021 while calling for the inauguration of substantive NDDC board.
