RAPHEAL EKPANG,ABUJA
The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to halt further consideration of the 2020 budget of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs over an alleged illegal appointment of an interim committee to manage the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The House has also urged the Senate to stop further action on the ministry’s budget.
This resolution followed a matter of public urgent importance on the urgent need to stop illegality in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) presented to the House by HON. OSSAI OSSAI.
Leading the debate, HON. OSSAI told the House that, contrary to the appointment of an interim committee, the most senior director in the Commission was supposed to replace the acting Managing Director sacked by Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, GODSWILL AKPABIO.
It would be recalled that SENATOR GODSWILL AKPABIO, on October 29, 2019, announced the sack of the Acting Managing Director of NDDC and appointed a three man Interim Management Committee.
The committee whose appointment coincided with that appointment of a 15-man board member for the NDDC by PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI is expected to run the affairs of Commission for the next six months.
OSSAI said, the haste with which the minister constituted the committee gives room for suspicion.
“The speed and curiosity with which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs hurriedly set up a three-man Interim Management Committee is stunning and suspicious.”
Speaking further, he noted that since the Senate has approved the appointment of the 15-man board members for the Commission the interim committee constituted by the minister should be disbanded.
Consequently, he urged the House to withdraw the appointment and the activities of the three-man Interim Management Committee of NDDC.
