Senate okays N451m for aides of 12 NDDC board members

**Passes N876bn for Commission’ 2023 budget

The Senate has appproved the 2023 budget of N876 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) out of which N451m was set aside as provisions for aides of 12 Board members of the commission

Aside the N451m provision for aides to 12 Board members of the commission, the approved budget also contained N576m earmarked for running of Office of the Chairman of the Commission, Laurreta Onochie.

The breakdown of the amount set aside for the office of the Chairman indicated that the personnel cost will gulp – N156m, overhead -N312m and Internal capital – N108m.

For the Managing Director’s Office, N546.597m was earmarked for personnel cost, NN747.500m for overhead cost, N163.504m for Internal Capital.

Others are Executive Director Finance & Administration Office , personnel cost N133.337m, Overhead cost N457.465m and N163.504m for Internal capital .

The Corporate Affairs Department of the Commission, also got N1.061b from the votes, out of which N431.076m, is for personnel cost, N845.566m for overhead and N63.081m for Internal Audit .

In the overall budget of the commission, personnel expenditure gulps N34.2b, overhead expenditure will gulp N17b, internal Capital expenditure will gulp N3.7b, Development projects will gulp N490b and Federal government intervention in the Niger Delta – N330b.

The revenue sources to finance the budget are Revenue brought forward – N5 billion, Federal government contribution – N119b, Federal government contribution (unpaid areas) – N430b, Oil companies contributions – N297b, Ecological funds – N20b and other Internally Realized income – N500m

Report for consideration and approval for the budget, was presented by Senator Bulus Amos in his capacity as Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

In his remarks after passage of the budget, President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan said the exercise was very expedient in order not to let the people of the region suffer from further delays.

Sixteen out of the Thirty member committee, signed the report, considered and approved by the Senate .