Senate okays N876b NDDC 2023 budget, as 12 board members’ aides get N451m

By Musa Baba Adamu

The N876 billion 2023 budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has been passed by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday after a thorough debate that tends to bring out the impact of the commission on the people of Niger Delta region in past years.

Out of the humongous amount passed, aides to 12 board members of the commission are to get the sum of N451 million as their entitlement for the year, while N576 million was earmarked for running of office of the chairman of the commission, Lauretta Onochie.

The breakdown for the office of the chairman showed that the personnel cost will gulp the sum of N156 million, overhead -N312 million and Internal capital –N108 million.

For the Managing Director’s office, N546.597 million was earmarked for personnel cost, N747.500 million for overhead cost, N163.504million for Internal Capital.

Others are Executive Director Finance and Administration Office, personnel cost N133.337million, Overhead cost N457.465 million and N163.504 million for Internal capital.

The Corporate Affairs Department of the Commission, also got N1.061 billion from the votes, out of which N431.076 million is for personnel cost, N845.566 million for overhead and N63.081 million for Internal

Audit.

In the overall budget of the commission, personnel expenditure gulp N34.2 billion, overhead expenditure will gulp N17 billion, internal Capital expenditure will gulp N3.7 billion, Development projects will gulp N490 billion and Federal government intervention in the Niger Delta – N330 billion.

The revenue sources to finance the budget are Revenue brought forward – N5 billion, Federal government contribution – N119

Senate Presidency: Avoid lateness on election day - Adamu warns APC senators

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC/, Senator Abdullahi Adamu has warned Senators who are seeking principal positions in the Senate not to be late to the floor to avoid the scenario of 2015.

Adamu gave this admonition at the party’s national secretariat on Tuesday when over 40 Senators, led by Senator Godswill Akpabio, continued their consultation on the consensus arrangement of the Senate Presidency.

He advised the Senators to ensure and maintain a rancourfree election adding that though they choose Godswill Akpabio, there was no way there won’t be an election as proclaimed by the Clerk of the National Assembly.

He said “I want us to have a rancor-free election because if everybody says yes, it is Akpabio, x or y, the rules in the House is that there must be an election. Those of you who are senators know this. We will not void that procedure on the day of the proclamation by the President.

“The Clerk of the National Assembly will conduct the election. I do hope and pray that we will carry the day. But I want to warn you. Do not be late. Hope I am communicating. Don’t be late. If you are late here, don’t be late there. Once beaten twice shy. You are advised.

“So I am happy that this consultation is going on. And I am happy that it has been very fruitful. We wait for the 13th of June, 2023, and see what happens. I do hope that we will have a rancor-free election on the floor”, he said.

He added “Being democrats, we are doing what leadership is compelling us to do. We carry as much of those who are going to decide who will become the Senate President, Deputy or officers or the speaker in the House of Representatives. We will give them the opportunity till the nerves are calm. There is sufficient calm in consultation.

“And from what you just said, there is evidence, ample one that with the time given, there is more consultation. And we are seeing the outcome of this consultation. We will not relent in this effort.” billion, Federal government contribution (unpaid areas ) –N430 Billion , Oil companies contributions – N297 billion, Ecological funds – N20 billion and other Internally Realized income – N500 million.

Report for consideration and approval for the budget, was presented by Senator Bulus Amos in his capacity as Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

In his remarks after passage of the budget, President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan said the exercise was very expedient in order not to let the people of the region suffer from further delays.

Sixteen out of the 37-member committee signed the report, considered and approved by the Senate.