BEVERLY HILLS, CA, November 13, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives Wednesday passed the 2013 budget of N315 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Details of the budget shows that N15 billion was approved for recurrent expenditure, while capital expenditure got N2 billion.
Overhead expenditure was earmarked N11billion, while N286 billion was allocated for the development projects of the commission. Also approved was N286.451 billion for development projects for the service of the NDDC for the fiscal year commencing April 2013 and ending March 31, 2014.
Earlier, Hon. Nicholas Mutu (PDP, Delta), the Chairman, House Committee on NDDC, said if approved, the budget would enhance the operations of the commission.
The budget, which was approved at the committee of supply jointly presided over by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, was endorsed without dissenting voices.
Meanwhile, the House on Wednesday mandated its committee on power to investigate the disruption of power in and around Kainji, the host of the premier hydro power station in the country.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro on “the urgent need to restore electricity in Kainji and its environs.”
While leading debate on the motion, the lawmaker noted with dismay that despite efforts made and enormous resources devoted to improving power supply in the country, Kainji which hosts the premier hydro power station in Nigeria has been in darkness for almost three months.
He expressed concern that relevant authorities and stakeholders have drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the problem without achieving the result, adding that the problem is a manifestation of some technical encumberances.
Jinkatoro said he was worried that the people of these communities have been subjected to untold hardship , stressing that the situation has national security, socio-economic, political, and environmental and health implications.
Saint Mugaga, Abuja.
