The Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has accused members of the National Assembly of being the beneficiaries of most of the contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This was disclosed by the minister when he appeared at the public hearing of the investigative panel at the house of representatives, which was set up to probe the corruption allegations against Akpabio and members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the NDDC.
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While responding to questions on the expenditure during this period of a forensic audit, he said you cannot close down the NDDC because of the security implication on the region. He pointed out that those that have done jobs for the commission should be paid while revealing that members of the national assembly were the greatest beneficiaries.
According to Akpabio, ‘’The NDDC plays a vital role in ensuring the peace and security of the region and 90% or more of the resources of the country come from there.’’
“If you close it down in totality all you will have is chaos. You will have a lot of, not just militancy, you will have a lot of insurrection.’’
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“So it is important that people who have gone to court, people who genuinely did jobs should be paid for their jobs. For me, I am not against it because, of course, who are even the greatest beneficiaries? It is you people.”
When a female lawmaker interrupted his presentation and asked what benefits the lawmakers get from the contracts, the minister said, “I just told you that we have records to show that most of the contracts in the NDDC are given out to members of the National Assembly.”
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Akpabio also informed the members of the committee that the immediate past acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Joy Nunieh, was sacked when he received a letter from the late Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, disclosing that she did not have a valid NYSC certificate or exemption letter. He also pointed out that she was sacked for insubordination.
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All illegal monies like pallatives unfounded loans giving to staffers should be refunded, if civil servants get loans there are stipulated time frame for repayment, NDDC worker cannot be an exception. Workers are home the minister said he paid palliatives to them, they should pay back or their properties be confiscated.