Acting MD, NDDC, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei
By Our Reporter
National Assembly has uncovered how N81.5 billion was spent on foreign trips, condolences, community relations, other sundries during the coronavirus lockdown by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
The IMC allegedly capitalised on the coronavirus lock down in Nigeria to embark on leisure and non-development projects.
Interestingly, the non developmental projects embarked upon by the IMC are difficult to substantiate.
Highlight of the NDDC N81.5 billion-part expenditures was presented as follows:
Covid-19 NN31.4 billion
Overseas travels for graduation of NDDC foreign scholarship beneficiaries N85.6 million
Maintenance N220 million
Legal services N900 million
Lassa fever N1.956 billion
Community relations N1.3 billion
Impress N790.9 million
Condolences N122.9 million
Consultancy N83 million
DAT N486 million
Listed above were parts of the activities that the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC claimed to have taken place during the lockdown. Source at the National Assembly hinted National WAVES that the IMC will need to account for the number of deaths that costs N122.9 million condolence visits, number of court cases handled during the period of the expenditure, how many schools were operating overseas at a time governments were enforcing lockdown, among others.
