2020 Budget: Senate Approves N453.2bn For NDDC

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Senate on Monday approved the sum of N453.2 billion as annual budget to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the 2020 fiscal year.

Similarly, the red chamber also endorsed a proposal by the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta on extending the 2020 budget implementation timeline to March 31, 2021.

The approval followed the Senate consideration of a report presented by the Committee on Niger Delta.

In his presentation, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP – Delta North), said of the total sum approved, N27,389,000,000 is for Personnel Costs; N13,937,244,107 for Overhead Expenditure; N2,793,755,893 for Internal Capital Expenditure; and N409,080,000,000 for Development Projects.

On the Commission’s revenue projection, Senator Nwaoboshi said the Committee adopted N63,506,151,945 as reflected in the 2020 Appropriations Act.

According to the lawmaker, the sum of N100 billion Naira reflected as unpaid arrears by the Federal Government was not considered as part of the Commission’s revenue projection by the Committee because the amount was not approved in the 2020 Appropriations Act by the National Assembly.

The Senator further said given the Commission’s projection on revenue inflow from oil companies/NLNG and others, the Committee adopted its submission on Personnel Expenditure of N27,389,000,000; N13,937,244,107 as Overhead Expenditure; N2,793,755,893 Internal Capital; and N409,080,000,000 for Development Projects.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, charged the Niger Delta Committee to ensure the proper and transparent utilization of funds by the Commission through strict oversight.

He said; “I want to emphasize here that our Committee on Niger Delta should sit-up and ensure that these funds are properly utilized.”

“The Committee has done a good job in the past, and I’m sure it will continue with that,” the Senate President said.