Despite heated debates and criticisms, the Nigerian Senate approved a N1.911 trillion budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for 2024.
The approval came after a brief committee report and public hearing, which raised concerns among Senators.
Some Senators, including Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and Adamu Aliero, expressed concerns about the lack of assessment of the agency’s 2023 budget performance and the proposed borrowing of N1 trillion, which they believed was not part of the borrowing plan.
They argued that approving a new budget without evaluating the previous year’s performance was an abuse of process.
However, Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Seriake Dickson defended the NDDC, citing its recent changes and the forensic audit conducted by South-South governors.
The Senate ultimately passed the budget into law, despite the controversies surrounding it.
The approval of the budget highlights the ongoing debates and scrutiny surrounding the NDDC’s management and impact in the Niger Delta region.
