Ijaw
People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, a rights group in the state of Delta,
said on Friday that it did not trust the Senate’s willingness to investigate
the alleged N40 billion spending scam that shook the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, because the upper chamber talks from both sides of the mouth.
People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, a rights group in the state of Delta,
said on Friday that it did not trust the Senate’s willingness to investigate
the alleged N40 billion spending scam that shook the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, because the upper chamber talks from both sides of the mouth.
Mr.
Austin Ozobo said; “Our attention has been drawn to the decision of the
Senate to investigate high-profile corruption in the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC. Normally, the decision of the Senate to investigate the
financial crisis in NDDC seems to be laudable and timely, because it would help
to reveal all the frauds perpetrated by those chairing the tribunal.
Austin Ozobo said; “Our attention has been drawn to the decision of the
Senate to investigate high-profile corruption in the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC. Normally, the decision of the Senate to investigate the
financial crisis in NDDC seems to be laudable and timely, because it would help
to reveal all the frauds perpetrated by those chairing the tribunal.
But
the Senate cannot be trusted, the reason being that the same Senate that vowed
not to allow the Interim Management Committee to take over the affairs of the
NDDC, later made a U-turn and released the Commission’s Budget to them. The
truth is that Senate speaks from both sides of its mouth. We do not have
confidence in its ability to carry out an effective investigation into
financial recklessness in the Commission until we are proven wrong by the
action of the Senate.
the Senate cannot be trusted, the reason being that the same Senate that vowed
not to allow the Interim Management Committee to take over the affairs of the
NDDC, later made a U-turn and released the Commission’s Budget to them. The
truth is that Senate speaks from both sides of its mouth. We do not have
confidence in its ability to carry out an effective investigation into
financial recklessness in the Commission until we are proven wrong by the
action of the Senate.
It
is appalling that the Commission has been engulfed by multiple trillions of naira
contracts. A lot of money has been diverted from the Commission’s coffers to
private accounts unrecognized by questionable companies and surrogate
government officials.
is appalling that the Commission has been engulfed by multiple trillions of naira
contracts. A lot of money has been diverted from the Commission’s coffers to
private accounts unrecognized by questionable companies and surrogate
government officials.
The
Senate is responsible for this mess rocking the Commission. It is worrisome
that the Senate is playing politics with NDDC. It cannot be trusted as it could
turn around overnight and begin to sing another song. There is, however, a need
for an inquiry into the financial scam within the Commission, because it would
serve to restore calm within the Commission, “IPDI said.
Senate is responsible for this mess rocking the Commission. It is worrisome
that the Senate is playing politics with NDDC. It cannot be trusted as it could
turn around overnight and begin to sing another song. There is, however, a need
for an inquiry into the financial scam within the Commission, because it would
serve to restore calm within the Commission, “IPDI said.
The
group added: “It is shameful that the commission has been turned into a
cash cow by a few corrupt government officials in the country, thereby
undermining the purpose of establishing the Commission. Frankly, the Senate has
not helped combat corruption in this region. The Senate tends to be a meeting
of policy-makers. It seems to serve itself, not Nigerians. It talks to enlarge
their mouths, not for anything else. The vote of the senate should have went a
long way toward repositioning the Commission toward order to fulfill its
original objective in existence, if any.
group added: “It is shameful that the commission has been turned into a
cash cow by a few corrupt government officials in the country, thereby
undermining the purpose of establishing the Commission. Frankly, the Senate has
not helped combat corruption in this region. The Senate tends to be a meeting
of policy-makers. It seems to serve itself, not Nigerians. It talks to enlarge
their mouths, not for anything else. The vote of the senate should have went a
long way toward repositioning the Commission toward order to fulfill its
original objective in existence, if any.
Truly,
we have lost faith in the willingness of the Senate to conduct an successful
survey of NDDC, as the decision seems to be a pure noise to impress gullible
Nigerians who have grasped the modus operandi, “said the rights group.
we have lost faith in the willingness of the Senate to conduct an successful
survey of NDDC, as the decision seems to be a pure noise to impress gullible
Nigerians who have grasped the modus operandi, “said the rights group.
