The protest by the senator representing Bayelsa West, Senator Seriake Dickson, on Wednesday forced the Senate to suspend the consideration of three budgets of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari called for a forensic audit of the finances of the NDDC, because of the commission allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the commission.
In objecting to the consideration, Dickson raised an order of privilege immidiately the Senate had wanted to take consideration on its order paper.
The former Governor of Bayelsa state, in opposing the consideration, cited order 9 of the senate standing rules, insisting that his privilege as a member of the senate and a member of the committee on Niger Delta had been breached.
He informed the Senate that he was not in the know of decisions reached by the panel on the budgets.
The consolidated budgets which were scheduled for consideration are for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 fiscal years.
The senate president, Ahmed LAWAN, responding to the Senator’s position, “I have 17 people here who signed the report and that is more than the quorum required.”
According to Lawan, the report would be considered on another legislative day stating that it was for the general understanding amongst ourselves.
“I believe that sometimes we may not be able to attend some of our meetings because we have other engagements elsewhere and when some of our colleagues do some things on our behalf, we should also respect what they have done.
“I will suggest that we stand down the report. If we are coming back to this senate tomorrow, then we take it because time is of the essence.”
Meanwhile, the Senate President directed the committee to meet and resolve the issues.
Credit: THE NETWORK.
