Reps tackle FG over N550bn for oil producing states’ projects

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Thursday expressed concern over Federal Government’s alleged decision to withhold over N550 billion for implementation of various developmental projects in the oil producing states.

The committee chaired by Nicholas Mutu also called on oil producing companies to remit the outstanding of the annual remittance worth N77 billion to the commission without further delay.

Mutu stated this during the 2014 budget defence session of the NDDC.

From the total sum of N322.6 billion proposed in the 2014 budget, the sum of N15,080,730,000 is for personnel costs; N10,186,820,000 is for overhead expenditure; N2,281,280,000 is for capital expenditure, while N295,051,179,000 is for development projects.

The lawmaker, who called for redress, said “NDDC is currently owed a huge sum, a situation that  impedes progress and rapid development of the region.

“These debts are in clear violation of the NDDC establishment Act 2000, Section 14 (2) a,b and c which mandates the Federal Government, oil producing companies and the ecological funds, respectively, to contribute stipulated percentages to the NDDC fund.”

Mutu also reiterated House resolve to synergise with the commission in the bid to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the region in providing good roads, electricity, potable water, health care services and other development projects embarked upon by the commission.

Speaking earlier, Bassey Dan-Abia, NDDC managing director, noted that the commission has made a lot of progress in recent years.

“We are pleased to reiterate that the 2014 budget is designed to sustain and consolidate the gains that have been recorded and the theme for our 2014 budget is tagged budget of recovery and restoration,” he said.

The House also onThursday expressed support for the passage of the bill which seeks to outlaw casualisation of workers in both public and private sectors of the nation’s economy. Emmanuel Jime (APC, Benue), sponsor of the bill, stressed the need to peg the time frame allowed for an employee to work as a casual worker in any organisation to a minimum of two years.

Jime, who led the debate on the general principles of the bill which scaled through second reading, opined that lawmakers have an obligatory
responsibility of protecting Nigerians from being enslaved by their employers who often take advantage of loopholes in the current labour laws to exploit their staff with impunity.