FG inaugurates panel to oversee NDDC

NASS summons 17 oil firm over N72b, $273m debt
Fashola, Silva, others seek cost reduction in sectors

The Federal Government has inaugurated a three-man committee to oversee the affairs of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This came after President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a forensic audit of the commission’s operations from 2001, following persistent criticisms of the operations.

His Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, stated yesterday that the president gave the directive after receiving governors of the states served by the NDDC led by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

Buhari said what was presently on the ground in the South South region did not justify the huge resources.

Inaugurating the interim committee yesterday in Abuja, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said the panel would be resuming duties today and directed the present leadership to hand over with immediate effect.

According to Akpabio, Gbene Nunieh will serve as the acting director-general, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh as executive director, while Mr. Ibanga Etah will stand in as the director of finance.

For owing the NDDC N72 billion and $273 million, the Joint National Assembly Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission yesterday summoned 17 oil companies.

The oil companies are expected to appear before the joint committee next Wednesday.

Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Peter Nwaboshi, disclosed this at the end of an interactive session with NDDC, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Union Bank.

Speaking to newsmen at the sidelines of the meeting, Nwaboshi said that the companies were invited to explain to lawmakers why they were not obeying the law.

“We have invited all oil companies indebted to NDDC to tell lawmakers why they will not obey the law of the country. Some of them have confirmed that they owe NDDC,” he said.

He accused the oil companies of not disclosing their real budget, saying most oil companies tamper with their annual budget.