The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has recommended an aggregate spending of N1.911 trillion for the 2024 budget, dubbed the “Budget of Renewed Hope”.
The Managing Director of NDDC Samuel Ogbuku presented the budget on Tuesday in Abuja before the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC.
According to him, achieving the sustainable economic development for which the commission was established was the main goal in creating the budget.
Ogbuku said, “A critical focus of this budget is the present management commitment to a greater future.”
According to the managing director, the commission received N683.2 billion in total income in inflows as of April 30, which is almost 78% of the N876 billion that was intended.
This, according to him, comprises N146.4 billion, representing 122 per cent from the Federal Government and N394.5 billion, representing 14 per cent from the oil and gas companies.
“We carried forward N105 billion from 2023,” he said.
The head of the NDDC said, “The commission has managed to fulfill its responsibilities despite the obstacles.”
According to him, the predicted N38.5 billion personnel budget estimate for 2024 will be followed by “a sustained effort in managing our overhead costs projected at N29.2 billion.”
Rep. Suenu Ibori, Chairman of the committee, said that a budget remained a crucial component of any organisation’s success and progress.
She said that the committee was determined to make sure the 2024 budget was used as efficiently as possible by carefully reviewing it.
“As a committee, it is our duty to carefully review your budget. We want to make sure that they are feasible, reasonable, and serve the interests of the area as a whole,” she said.
Ibori praised the commission for demonstrating notable progress, particularly in the areas of health and education, and stated that it was the commission’s responsibility to promote regional development.
