Godswill Akpabio, the minister of Niger Delta Affairs has said 60 per cent contract awards of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) given to National Assembly members.
He made the allegation at the public hearing on the multi-billion fraud at the commission organized by the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC.
Akapbio’s claim had triggered a serious reaction between him and a committee member that contracts of the commission, about 60 per cent were awarded to some lawmakers who also failed to provide documentary evidence.
“Most of the contracts in NDDC are given out to the members of the National Assembly. If you don’t know, please ask the two chairmen.
“I just told you that we have records to show that most of the contracts in NDDC are given out to members of the national assembly but you don’t know about it, the two chairmen can explain to you. I was a member of the NDDC committee so I know about it,’’ said the minister.
“We cannot close down the Niger Delta Development Commission because of the fact that we are doing (a) forensic audit,” he said.
“The NDDC plays a vital role in ensuring the peace and security of the region and 90 per cent or more of the resources of the country come from there.
“If you close it down in totality all you will have is chaos. You will have a lot of, not just militancy, you will have a lot of insurrection.
“So it is important that people who have gone to court, people who genuinely did jobs should be paid for their jobs. For me, I am not against it because, of course, who are even the greatest beneficiaries? It is you people.”
A member of the committee took him up on his “you people” allegation and asked him to clarify.
“I just told you that we have records to show that most of the contracts in the NDDC are given out to members of the National Assembly,” the ex-Senator said.
