The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has announced plans to regularize it’s budget cycle to be in alignment with the national budget. To this effect, the NDDC also inaugurated its 18-member 2025 Budget Committee charged with the responsibility to prepare its budget proposals.
The Managing Director, MD, of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated this while addressing members of the committee during the inauguration at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. According to Dr. Ogbuku the committee would ensure that before the end of the 2024 budget cycle, the commission would have secured approval for the 2025 budget.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the NDDC boss made reference to previous Budget Reconstruction Conference, highlighting the need to commence 2025 budget while consulting the commission's stakeholders.
“As we are about to implement the 2024 budget, we must begin preparation for the 2025 budget by holding consultations with our stakeholders. Last year, we hosted a two-day 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.”
Outlining the responsibilities of the committee, he urged them to tune the budget to reflect the need of the people for the collective benefit stakeholders in the region.
“The committee will ensure that the budget reflects the needs of the people. To achieve this, we must have a stakeholders’ conference to gain their buy-in. We are not doing it for ourselves but for the collective benefit of stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.”
Dr. Ogbuku further stated that the NDDC budget would focus on funding achievable projects, noting, “We cannot develop the region in one year.”
Furthermore, Dr. Ogbuku said that as soon as President Bola Tinubu signs the 2024 budget passed by the National Assembly, the Commission would raise one trillion naira to fund some legacy projects initiated by previous administrations, noting that, one of such project is the Okrika-Borokiri Link Road in Rivers State.
Mr. Ogbuku also noted that the all NDDC directors in the nine mandate states of the commission, and also the representative from the Oil Producers Trade Section, are also to be included into forming the Budget Committee.
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