NDDC: NANS Says Forensic Audit Not Negotiable
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow any interest to derail the on-going forensic audit of the financial activities in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
The NANS leadership in a statement by its President, Danielson Bamidele Akpan, Saturday, in Abuja, urged President Buhari to remain firm on his decision that the Forensic Audit be concluded by Prof. Pondei led IMC in record time, for the benefit of the teeming population of Niger Delta region people. Mr Akpan noted that “After about 20 years of the establishment of the NDDC, it is worrisome, that the vision of the founding fathers has remained blurred.
The Commission became a prisoner of sorts under the PDP, to vested interests who had turned it to conduit pipe and to embezzle the common resources of the people of the region.”
He said, “The annual budget of NDDC, which runs into billions of naira, has not made a reasonable impact in the lives of the people of the region. It turns out that a few people have become billionaires by constantly calling the shots in the Commission. They divert and take up contracts without execution.
‘It is our fervent belief that the forensic audit that captures 20 years of its existence in our democracy excludes no party whether the APC or PDP and any administration.
“It will expose contract padding and duplication, multiplication of contracts by selected folder companies, shady and underhand dealings of colluding civil servants, politicians and including those who resort to petitions when affected by the routine transfer, from the “juicy headquarters” among other anomalies.
“We are aware that some persons somewhere are dead-scared of the outcome of the NDDC Forensic Audit, and can do anything to make sure it does not succeed. These faceless enemies of the region must be stopped and the Forensic Audit with the support of the Governors must be concluded by Prof. Pondei led IMC in record time, for the benefit of the teeming population of Niger Delta region people.
“This bold move by the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has become a consistent threat of business extinction to those who have, over the years, made brisk business portfolio from the contracts of NDDC.
“This will no doubt generate mud and dust from the perpetrators which the honourable minister and those tasked by Mr President must be prepared for.
“The outcome of the forensic audit will bring an end to the days of perpetual corruption in the commission and thereafter make the funds serve the people of the region.
“We are not amazed but alarmed at the latest twist and outburst from the immediate past Interim Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission Miss Joi Nunieh, we wonder why all these allegation and drama she is acting were not staged when she was in office as the Acting MD of the Commission.
“Her attack on the personality of Senator Godswill Akpabio is seen as designed in connivance with the distractors who she originally called detractors while she serves as acting MD.
“The same people who were hell-bent on pulling down the promoters of the forensic audit from the inception have become frightened by the commitment and resolve to push on the assignment to fruition as directed by Mr President. Miss Nunieh has suddenly become friends with them and now their main character in the script.
