TheCable

The house of representatives has asked the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to put on hold the release of N15 billion counterpart funding requested by the federal government for a humanitarian intervention programme.

The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution at Thursday’s plenary following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Unyime Idem, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Akwa Ibom.

While moving the motion, Unyime told his colleagues that the federal government requested the funds from the ministry without the parliament’s approval.

“Part of the fund available for use by the commission is money recovered on its behalf by EFCC and given to the commission to ease the implementation and its financial obligations,” the lawmaker said.

“The federal government sent a special request mandating the ministry of Niger Delta to jointly finance an intervention and humanitarian programme of sums running into several billions of naira using the money recovered by the EFCC without budgetary provision.”

The legislator said the NDDC budget estimates for 2021, 2022 and 2023 are yet to be given legislative approval.

He said the request by the federal government “without requisite financial appropriation and approval” is “illegal and a breach of the Appropriation Act”.

The lawmakers voted in favour of the motion when it was put to a voice vote by Femi Gbajabiamila, the presiding officer.

Following the adoption of the motion, the lawmakers asked the committee on NDDC “scrutinise” the FG’s request and report back to the house within two weeks.