By Ebireri Henry Ovie
A legal practitioner, Mr Godwin Ojeh, has lamented what he called the corruption of self-enrichment in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Nigerian Senate, Mr Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, to stop the payment of N15 billion to contractors.
“The Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission has thrown caution to the winds.
“It is about to pay for jobs not done. The committee is processing the payment of a whopping amount of N15 billion on spurious contracts in the name of Desilting of Waterways,” Mr Ojeh said.
He particularly decried the alleged misappropriation in the management of the funds of the commission.
“Is the 2020 budget of the commission ready? Where are they spending from?
“Recently, the Senate set up an ad hoc committee to probe the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over alleged mismanagement of N40 billion.
“The Senate also requested for 2019 budgetary performance. The commission doesn’t have the power to expend public money. There is no budgetary provision,” the legal practitioner said.
In a tone suggestive of his hatred for corruption, the Benin based lawyer asked the National Assembly and the executive arm of the government to stop the commission from wasting the country’s resources.
In a statement in Benin, Mr Ojeh described the intention of the NDDC Interim Management Committee as “a move that will endanger the development of the region.”
“There is no greater danger to the development of the Niger Delta region than the payments for fictitious contracts,” the statement added.
He also harped on the need for transparency in government organisations, saying “it is necessary for the National Assembly and the executive arm of government to adopt a collective position on the allegation of corruption in the NDDC.”
Adedapo Adesanya