Managing Director of the Niger Delta Commission, NDDC, Dr. Nsima Ekere, has accused the immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan of poor funding of the agency during his administration, which lasted six years.
According to Ekere, the former President refused to release the huge backlog of funds meant for the commission for the development of the Niger Delta notwithstanding the fact that he hails from the region.
The NDDC boss said this at a public function in Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was a complete departure from the lackluster era of the former president as the current president was transforming the country and Niger Delta in particular.
He said, “We have done a lot for the people of Niger Delta. We have received enormous support from the President. There is no request that we sent to the President that had not been approved. But our brother, former President Jonathan, did not pay one kobo owed NDDC.
“I commend Mr. President for the enormous support to NDDC, especially his approval for the harmonisation of outstanding remittances from the Federal Ministry of Finance and release of outstanding funds due the commission for the development of the Niger Delta region.
“This year, after our written supplications to Mr. President, he approved that Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Budget and Planning should sit with NDDC to reconcile the books and agree on how much was outstanding and also agree on an acceptable payment plan.
“He did not stop at that, in the budget that had just been passed by the National Assembly, awaiting presidential assent, the Federal Government provided for N34 billion as part payment of the outstanding debts to NDDC.”.
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