Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has lamented that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is broke and needs more funding from the Federal Government.
Speaking on Friday at the NDDC Strategic Capacity Building Workshop in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, Akpabio said the funding system is poor because budgetary provision for the commission is staggered and does not come as and when due.
The minister, who called for an amendment to the laws establishing the agency if need be, however, said he was determined to leave the NDDC better than how he found it.
“The commission is broke because the funding system is poor. We must leave NDDC better than what we found it. If it means the lawmakers have to tinker with the law, so be it” he said.
Akpabio cited corruption, weak political and institutional governance, transparency and accountability in performance information, and lack of proper consultation and engagement with the communities and State Governments among others as challenges plaguing the commission.
“Corruption is one of the greatest problems of the Nigerian society and it also finds its ugly and devastating effects in all sectors of the polity including the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“The level of corruption engulfed all the sectors including government, parastatals, ministries, government officials and community leaders even the youth leaders and NDDC was not left out in the act.
“Weak political and institutional governance in the Niger Delta has led to the misuse of public resources, poor service delivery, and the poor enforcement, of the law.
“The consequence has been the lingering restiveness, the breakdown of trust, abuse and misuse of power between officials and the communities, and embezzlement and attendant violence.
“The current funding patterns and budgeting processes must embrace these best practices, to achieve the best we can, while asking for more funding to do even more sustainable projects and programmes,” he said.
