Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, acting Managing Director of the NDDC, had led other members of the IMC to appear before the National Assembly in a bid to explain and defend its 2019 expenditure.
Prof Pondei, stated that the commission received N305.5b as revenue in 2019 and spent only N122b.
In compliance with the provision of the 2019 Appropriation Act, we implemented the 2019 capital budget till May 31st 2020.”
“On the expenditure side, 2019 budget implementation was hindered by the delay in its approval and release coupled with the COVID-19 global pandemic.”
“Only the recurrent expenditure which runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2019 was implemented substantially.”
However, an argument emanated when the Chairman of House of Reps committee on NDDC asked why only 40b was brought back in submission. Saying since N122b was spent on expenditure out of N305.5b, the balance should be N183b and not the N40b being brought back.
” The commission is expected to bring back a balance of N183.2b forward in the 2020 budget proposal, but the report it submitted to this committee shows N40b”.
However, the committee then asked the acting MD to sign every page of the document for authenticity which he agreed but late declined requesting for a withdrawal of the 2019 budget to be able to address such differences.
