Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday failed to show approval of 1691 contracts between 2014- 2016 to Senate Committee on Public Accounts.
The Commission however submitted approval of six contracts out of 1691 contracts approved.
The Committee also uncovered the commission operated 22 bank accounts instead of four approved accounts before the advent of Treasury single Account (TSA)
At the Public hearing of the Committee, the Chairman, Senator Andy Uba expressed dismay that the Commission has not taken the matter of accountability serious.
He demanded that the agency should submitted evidence of approval 1691 contracts to the committee secretariat with seven days.
The chairman also demanded the certificate of no objection from Bureau of Public Procurement.
He accused the Commission for not have regard for the committee and by extension senate because documents requested from the Commission has been submitted.
The Chairman also accused the Commission of hiding something from the committee.
Uba said in his earlier remarks,” the committee as part of its mandate of ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of the public account of the Federation and on receipt of petitions of corruption on the award of contracts at the Commission decided to embark on special oversight on income and expenditure of the Commission.
“Sequel to the above, the committee wrote the Commission on 23rd and 30th August, 2016 requesting for information on Revenue, expenditure and personnel information.
“The Commission was to respond within period of two weeks, the 16th September, 2016 and invited the acting Managing Director to appear before it on September 20, 2016.
“The Commission refused to furnish the committee with the requested information and Managing director did not appear before the committee.
“The Committee again, wrote another reminder to the Commission on the requested information and rescheduled the appearance of the MD to 22nd September, 2016.”
On the bank account, the Committee mandated the secretariat to write the banks involved in 22 accounts to known balances.
The NDDC Boss, Ibn Semenitari [pictures above] told the committee that the Commission has regards for the Senate.
However, the Commission was unable to meet up with demand because of various oversight function of the commission.
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