The Senate has passed a budget of N876 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to spend in the 2023 financial year.
The Senate passed the budget on Tuesday after requesting and obtaining further information on the activities of the commission on the 2021 and 2022 budget estimates.
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who expressed his gratitude to the Senate for passing the budget said that the passage of the budget was a significant milestone in developing the Niger Delta region.
He said the budget would enable the NDDC to continue providing critical infrastructure and services to the people of the region.
“We are grateful to the Senate for its support and commitment to developing the Niger Delta region. The passage of this budget will enable us to continue providing critical infrastructure and services to the region’s people,” Ogbuku said.
The Managing Director also pledged to ensure that the funds allocated in the budget were used judiciously and through due process. He said that the NDDC would work assiduously to ensure that its projects were completed on time and to the highest standards.
He said, “We are committed to ensuring that every kobo allocated in this budget is used for its intended purpose. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our projects are completed on time and to the highest standards.”
The NDDC boss also called on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to support the NDDC in its efforts to develop the region. He said that the Commission needed the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the region to achieve its goals, stating: “Together, we will build a better future for our people. We cannot do this alone.”
The passage of the budget came one week after the NDDC managing director had cleared the air about the Senate’s investigations into the commission’s budgets for 2021 and 2022.
He had appealed to members of the public to avoid jumping to conclusions based on the Senate’s investigations and assured of the NDDC’s commitment to transparency and accountability. He had also said that he respected the oversight function of the Senate and was ready to cooperate with the investigation committee.
