Reps query NDDC MD over N90.4bn extra-budgetary spending, 150 abandoned projects

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, yesterday, rebuked the acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof. Kemerbrandikumo Pondei, over N90.4billion extra-budgetary expenditure by the commission between 2009 to 2011.

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The committee, which is investigating audit queries issued to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, AuGF, also grilled Pondei over 150 NDDC abandoned projects in the Niger Delta, after payment had been made to the contractors.

The committee said the extra-budgetary expenditure was a violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and would not be allowed to go unpunished.

The lawmakers also directed the NDDC to furnish the committee with the details of affected contractors, so that they can be summoned to explain their roles in the abandoned projects.

The AuGF in his query had noted that the NDDC paid N23.215 billion to contractors between 2008 to 2012, for 150 projects, which have now been stalled.

“Analysis of the NDDC contracts profile reveals that there are a total number of 150 stalled projects scattered all over the region as recorded by the project management department. The sum of N23.215billion has so far be paid to the contractors of these projects,” the audit query state