President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the National Assembly and other agencies investigating the misuse of national resources, to work together in ensuring transparency and accountability from individuals and institutions entrusted with public funds.
In a tweet via his official handle @MBuhari, the President promised to get to the root of the problems bedevilling the development of the Niger Delta region.
“I am determined to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta, in spite of the enormous national resources dedicated to this annually. This administration remains committed to bringing rapid, even and sustainable development to the region,” the tweet read.
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He called on investigating agencies and audit firms working with the National Assembly Committees to act “with urgency and a sense of purpose” and keep him informed on their actions and progress.
All investigating agencies and auditing firms currently working collaboratively with National Assembly Committees to audit and reposition the NDDC must act with urgency and a sense of purpose, and ensure that I am kept informed of any and all actions being taken.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 16, 2020
These efforts, he added, would apply to every institution of the Federal Government.
The Backstory
Earlier on Thursday, the House of Representative Committee on NDDC, issued a warrant of arrest on the acting Managing Director of the Commission, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, after he walked out on the legislators probing the alleged N40 billion irregular expenditure in the commission.
Pondei who walked out with his team, accused the Chairman of the House of Representative committee on NDDC, Olubumi Tunji-Ojo (APC-Ondo) of corruption, insisting that the Niger Delta Development Commission was not comfortable having him chair the committee.
In his words, “We in the NDDC are not comfortable with the Chairman of this committee, presiding over the matter. He is an interested party and we do not believe that the NDDC can have justice because he cannot seat on his own case.”
“We have no issue of appearing, we appeared before the Senate ad hoc committee and as long as he remains, we will not make any presentation,” he said.
The warrant on Pondei’s arrest was issued by the lawmakers, following the unanimous adoption of the motion by Rep. Benjamin Kalu at the investigative hearing On Thursday in Abuja.
