A special periodic checks report by the Auditor General for the Federation on Wednesday revealed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) spent N183, 673, 166,311.00 on various projects that were not executed or left abandoned between 2008 and 2012.
In a presentation made by the Auditor General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, to the Clerk of the National of the Assembly (NASS), Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa, a copy of which was made available to the media in Abuja, said NDDC must refund the N183 billion to the coffers of government for projects not executed or abandoned in the period under review.
He regretted that the insecurity in the Niger Delta region is caused mainly by contractors not implementing projects that will bring development to the area, coupled with the underhand dealings of NDDC, which has led to the spiriting of N183 billion into private pockets.
The breakdown showed that N70, 493,993,000.00 was paid by the commission as mobilization fees for which the contractors never reported to site.
The report also showed N5, 838, 768.000.00 as payments for projects not executed and abandoned.
Ukura said: “Extra-budgetary expenditure for Head/Sub-Head without approval by the legal authorities. Tax deductions without evidence of remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) N10, 072, 330, 926.00 and un-deducted taxes from contractors amounting to N1, 172, 838, 759.00, and transfer to unauthorized account stood at N3, 118, 000.000.00.”
While promising that all the monies be recovered and paid into government treasury, he added that the total sum of N785,000,000.00 out of N1.1 billion meant for supply of furniture to schools in Delta State were never delivered, adding that staff advances that is still outstanding remains at N1, 730, 954, 931.00.
