The Niger Delta Development Commission has defended its N1.911 trillion 2024 budget before the Senate Committee on the NDDC. The Managing Director of the agency, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, presented the estimates of the fiscal document to the senators, stating that N100 billion was earmarked to settle some of its accumulated debts. Dr. Ogbuku made…The Niger Delta Development Commission has defended its N1.911 trillion 2024 budget before the Senate Committee on the NDDC.
He said, “The proposed budget seeks to move the Commission from transaction to transformation and was a product of participatory budgeting process that involved all the major stakeholders in the Niger Delta Region with the theme “Budget of Renewed Hope Agenda”. Ogbuku said the agency proposed to borrow N1 trillion; projected N324 billion as Federal Government contribution and N25 billion ecology fund.
He said, “As of April 30th, 2024, the Commission’s actual aggregate revenue inflow was N683.2 billion, approximately 78% of the targeted N876 billion. “Towards this end, we are re-navigating its process of intervention by adopting Public-Private-Partnership model as a vehicle to drive sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.
He said the agency was also in partnership with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines, and Agriculture . Several Organisations and State Governments have approached the Commission for partnerships, and we are currently engaging them to fine-tune the process. “We can only devote our efforts to providing support for the needs of the greater number of our people.
A member of the Committee, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said the panel in the 10th Senate would carry out massive oversight functions on the projects and activities of the NDDC more than ever before.Before flagging, please keep in mind that Disqus does not moderate communities. Your username will be shown to the moderator, so you should only flag this comment for one of the reasons listed above.