The House of Representatives yesterday approved the 2011 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with an addition of N11.5 billion to the N249.5billion requested by President Goodluck Jonathan.
This is just as the National Assembly has proceeded on a break to celebrate the Christmas and New Year. The House in plenary resumes on the 10th of January, 2012.
Jonathan had through a letter sent to the National Assembly last week, conveyed the commission’s 2011 budget of N249.5 billion? for approval, but after consideration of the report on the NDDC budget, they had however approved a total sum of N261.04 billion.
Leader of the House, Hon Mulikat Akande-Adeola, when leading the debate on the general principles of the bill last week, had urged members to support its speedy passage, considering several challenges that have led to its late presentation.
She explained that part of the reasons why the budget was received late was because of “internal wrangling between management and board of the NDDC,” and the non-availability of the cumulative three percent contribution by major oil firms, pointing out that it was “better done late than never.”
Meanwhile, the House has directed its Committee on Marine Transport to urge the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA) to? furnish it with accurate number of ship wrecks in Nigeria’s waterways.
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