The Provisional Management Committee
of the Niger Delta Development Commission paid N570 m to certain staff members
to attend training programs while Nigeria was in complete lock-up following the
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
of the Niger Delta Development Commission paid N570 m to certain staff members
to attend training programs while Nigeria was in complete lock-up following the
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The disclosure is contained in the
report of the ad hoc Senate Committee set up to unravel the alleged financial
negligence of the IMC between October 1999 and May 2020.
report of the ad hoc Senate Committee set up to unravel the alleged financial
negligence of the IMC between October 1999 and May 2020.
A copy of the panel’s report, obtained
by Saturday’s PUNCH on Friday, showed that N143 m was paid to individual staff
members on 1 April 2020 to attend a budget participatory conference.
by Saturday’s PUNCH on Friday, showed that N143 m was paid to individual staff
members on 1 April 2020 to attend a budget participatory conference.
By the way, according to the article,
“this time happens to be during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is clear that
the conference was not attended because the nation was on an total lockdown.
“this time happens to be during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is clear that
the conference was not attended because the nation was on an total lockdown.
The Committee also recommended that
the entire sum be reimbursed by the staff members concerned.
the entire sum be reimbursed by the staff members concerned.
“This payment was made to five
staff members with an average of almost N28 m per person,” he said.
staff members with an average of almost N28 m per person,” he said.
The report also noted that N171 m was
charged in cash to 300 drivers on 3 February 2020 to attend a driver training
course scheduled to take place while the nation was locked down.
charged in cash to 300 drivers on 3 February 2020 to attend a driver training
course scheduled to take place while the nation was locked down.
The panel acknowledged that the
tradition of cash compensation to individual workers continues to be a common
practice in the NDDC.
tradition of cash compensation to individual workers continues to be a common
practice in the NDDC.
“This action is not only immoral,
it lacks transparency and accountability. NDDC will do away with this activity
as a means of strengthening its duty of stewardship, “the report said.
it lacks transparency and accountability. NDDC will do away with this activity
as a means of strengthening its duty of stewardship, “the report said.
It also added that the IMC paid N150m
on April 3, 2020, to some NDDC union executives for an International Labour
Organisation conference in Turin, Italy.
on April 3, 2020, to some NDDC union executives for an International Labour
Organisation conference in Turin, Italy.
“Incidentally, this period also
happens to be during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is obvious that the beneficiaries
of these payments could not travel out of the country as a result of the
COVID-19 travel restriction.
happens to be during the COVID-19 lockdown. It is obvious that the beneficiaries
of these payments could not travel out of the country as a result of the
COVID-19 travel restriction.
“Hence, this sum must be refunded by
the union members concerned,” the report added.
the union members concerned,” the report added.
The report also revealed the names of
“delegates” who attended the graduation ceremony of NDDC scholars in the United
Kingdom in June 2020.
“delegates” who attended the graduation ceremony of NDDC scholars in the United
Kingdom in June 2020.
It also stated that the total cost of
the trip was N85.6m, paid to 14 staff members to travel to the United Kingdom.
the trip was N85.6m, paid to 14 staff members to travel to the United Kingdom.
The report said, ‘The composition of
the travellers includes the MD/CEO, Prof (Daniel) Pondei; the Executive
Director, Projects, Dr Cairo Ojougboh; and another Director, Mr Luke Lbanga.
the travellers includes the MD/CEO, Prof (Daniel) Pondei; the Executive
Director, Projects, Dr Cairo Ojougboh; and another Director, Mr Luke Lbanga.
“These payments show a form of
internal control failure in the NDDC, in particular with the management’s
choice to make transactions such as cash payments to individual staff
members.”
internal control failure in the NDDC, in particular with the management’s
choice to make transactions such as cash payments to individual staff
members.”
