Put on hold release of N15bn FG humanitarian services funds – Reps tell NDDC

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives has mandated the Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC to immediately put on hold the release of N15 billion counterpart funding requested by the federal government for humanitarian Intervention pending the approval of the Commission’s budget by the Green Chambers.
Th House resolution followed a Motion of ugent National Importance moved during plenary by Hon.Ujime Idem, a member Representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom state.
Hon Idem in his debate explained that the House is aware that the Ministry of Niger Delta was inaugurated and commissioned by the Presidency to attend to intervention and humanitarian needs of the Niger Delta region of the country and promote the physical development of the Niger Delta region
The Lawmaker further informed the House that since its inauguration, the Ministry of Niger Delta has executed fundamental and important humanitarian intervention projects across the region.
He said “Aware that part of the fund available for use by the Commission is money recovered on its behalf by EFCC and given to the Commission, to ease the implementation and its financial obligations adding that the Federal government had recently sent a special request mandating the Ministry of Niger Delta to jointly finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums running into several Billions of Naira using the money recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision.
“Also cognizant that the NDDC Budget estimates for 2021 , 2022 & 2023 is before it waiting for a legislative approval
“Worried that such request for intervention and humanitarian proposals by the federal governmentent without requisite financial appropriation and approval by this honourable House is illegal and a breach of the Appropriation Act.
The House therefore resolved to mandate the committee on Niger Delta Development Commission to scrutinize the request by the federal government and report back to the whole house within 2 weeks.