The House of Representatives has approved an increased budget of N240.5 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for 2010 fiscal year by N4billion as against the initial sum of N236.5 billion forwarded for consideration by the Commission.

A breakdown of the N240.5 billion shows that the Commission projected an additional N3.9 billion under the project development expenditure.

The expenditure for the Project Development Expenditure was raised from N222,032,575,123.39 to N226,028,483,509 to ensure completion of on going projects especially those that the contracts have been awarded since 2008.

The revenue profile of the Budget further showed that the Federal Government would contribute the sums of N37,176,934,717 and N9,312,986,292,(ECA) resepectively while Oil Companies will contribute N100 billion with the sum of N370 projected to be sourced from other internally realizable revenue.

The House however changed a sub-head amounting to N90 million and earmarked for marriages, condolence visits and other social engagements and retitled it “Staff welfare” instead of the former heading,“deaths/condolences/bereavement/transport and marriages.”

Just like the senate which has jettisoned the budget consideration for its alleged ambiguity in sub-heads, the Reps cautioned that it was absurd to fix such a whooping funding for marriages and other social welfare for workers in a region branded as hostile and restive because of underdevelopment.

Honourable Sa’adatu Sani (PDP) Kaduna state who raised the issue of the N90 million for marriages, condolence visits among others during the debate on the general principles of the budget had lamented that such should not be allowed in budget that has only N500,000 for borehole

A breakdown of the capital projects of the budget showed that a whooping sum of N84 million is voted for the purchase of Jeeps, N91 million for the purchase of Saloon cars, Project vehicles make not specified had N125 million budgeted for it.

In the same Capital Project, a whooping sum of N57 million was budgeted for purchase of vehicles 504 Peugeot cars, N9 million, Coaster buses N20 million and Mini Buses to be purchased at the cost of N28 million.

However, Budget totalling N236.5 billion scaled through the mandatory second reading on the floor of the House preparatory for it final passage into law.

Leading debate on the general principles of the budget, the House leader, Hon. Tunde Akogun had explained that the sum was made up of N5,860,254,846 is for personnel cost while the sum of N6,964,477,682 is for overhead cost and N1,730,000,000 is for capital expenditure while the balance of N222,032,575,123.39 is for development projects expenditure.

He further explained that the 2010 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was a developmental

Comment