The
This was just as some youths in
Before passing the NDDC budget, the upper chamber approved a recommendation by the
The approval followed consideration of a report by the
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP -
On revenue projection of the commission, the lawmaker said the committee adopted N63, 506,151,945 as reflected in the Appropriations Act, 2020.
He added that N100 billion reflected as unpaid arrears by the Federal Government was not considered as part of the commission's revenue projection by the committee because the amount was not approved in the 2020 Appropriations Act by the
Nwaoboshi stated further that against the backdrop of projection by the NDDC on revenue inflow from oil companies/NLNG and others, the Committee adopted the submission of the commission on Personnel Expenditure of N27,389,000,000; N13,937,244,107 as Overhead Expenditure; N2,793,755,893
President of the
He said: "I want to emphasize here that our
"The committee has done a good job in the past and I'm sure it will continue with that."
Responding to a request by Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP - Bayelsa West) to prevail on President
Lawan noted that the concerns raised by the lawmaker in his suggestion were as valid and potent as a motion considered on the floor, adding that the
He said: "We have been engaging with the executive arm of government that the nominations into the governing board should be made. We have been making that point and will continue to push until it is made.
"I think we are getting there. So even if we don't take any motion, I'm sure the explanations you have given will go a long way.
"I don't think the sole administrator should be there for any long period of time, but it is for us to ensure that between now and when that administrator goes, the funds appropriated are properly utilised."
Angry youths block
Meanwhile, angry Ijaw youths, yesterday, blocked the
The protesters under the aegis of
Though armed soldiers backed by an Armoured Personnel Carrier and led by a Major were deployed in the area to clear the blockade, the protesters refused to budge.
Not even the plea from former Secretary to Bayelsa State Government and ex Nigerian Ambassador to the Scandinavian countries, Dr. Godknows Igali, who was caught in the gridlock, could sway the protesters.
The development led to serious gridlock on the usually busy road spanning more than two kilometres on the Bayelsa and Rivers stretch of the road.
Led by Ebilade Ekerefe, spokesman, IYC Worldwide; Clever Iniodu, Zonal Chairman Central Zone;
Ebilade said: "The reason we are here is very simple, of course the development in the
"Don't forget that a few days ago, as a result of the Endsars protest that almost crippled the entire economy of this country, the president commissioned the Chief of Staff to go to the various zones and get various report from their challenges and very quite frankly they came to
"First, that meeting didn't hold and we were so angry and aggrieved until eventually that meeting held and the position of Ijaw people and
"Till date, we have not heard or seen if the president has even received that report or if he has even started acting upon it, and the appointment of a sole administrator for the NDDC has violated that principle of fair representation in NDDC."
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