NDDC Promises To Accelerate Development With 2024 Budget

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has promised that early approval of the Commission’s 2024 budget will help to accelerate the Niger Delta region’s development and socioeconomic transformation.

According to Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the pledge while presenting its N1.9 trillion 2024 budget estimates to the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC at the National Assembly in Abuja.

In his presentation to the Committee, chaired by Hon. Erhiateke Ibori-Seun, Ogbuku emphasised the NDDC’s 2023 budget estimates. He stated that the region has made significant progress and that ongoing projects are being completed.

He explained that the primary goal in preparing the 2024 Budget, titled “Budget of Renewed Hope,” was to build a strong foundation for long-term economic development and a greener future for the region.

The NDDC’s CEO stated that the proposed budget will be funded by the Federal Government, oil companies, an ecological fund, arrears owed to the NDDC by the Federal Government, recoveries by Federal Government agencies from revenue brought forward, borrowings, and internally generated income.

Ogbuku stated, “Investing in critical infrastructure is a key component of our fiscal strategy under the 2024 Budget Proposals. The current management has reviewed its intervention process and decided to use the Public-Private-Partnership model to drive sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.

“To that end, we are collaborating with the Industrial Training Fund to engage the region’s youth in productive ways to reduce crime and economic sabotage. We have strategically made provisions to diversify our funding sources, as we intend to raise a total of one trillion naira to fund the Commission’s ongoing legacy projects by 2024′, Ogbuku stated.

On fiscal reforms, he stated, “We will implement new performance management frameworks to regulate overhead costs. As a result, only activities that are linked to measurable programmes will be approved. We have transitioned from a line-item budgeting system to sectoral allocation.

“I once again applaud the 10th National Assembly’s firm commitment to ending the unnecessary cycle of annual budget delays. I am confident that with our renewed partnership, the deliberations on the 2024 budget will be completed soon, paving the way for the 2025 budget, as the current Management is preparing to normalise the NDDC budget calendar.

While seeking continued support and collaboration from lawmakers, the NDDC boss assured of Management’s strong commitment to deepening the relationship with the National Assembly.

He stated, “It is documented history that we have progressed from transactional to transformational, and transformation is practical. In this regard, we believed it needed to be comprehensive, covering areas such as youth training, entrepreneurship support, and infrastructure and development.

“In the area of youth training, we developed Project HOPE to create a comprehensive database of Niger Delta youth and artisans. It will help us engage these youths in their area of expertise.

“In terms of infrastructure, we launched “Operation Light Up Niger Delta Region,” which has resulted in a significant number of communities being lit up with solar-powered street lights, boosting the communities’ economic activities at night.

He went on to say, “Health is wealth, and good health is still central to human development. The NDDC, through the free medical mission, has provided health solutions to over two million Niger Deltans in communities throughout the Region and remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to improve healthcare and all other critical sectors that have a positive impact on the overall development of the Region’s health and wellness.

“In education, between 2023 and 2024, we awarded 750 foreign scholarships and 84 educational grants. In addition, we are distributing 45,000 Ulesson tablets preloaded with Nigerian and WAEC syllabuses to schools in nine Niger Delta states.

Ogbuku told the Federal Lawmakers that the NDDC’s current management is ushering in a new era of progress and development as standards and effectiveness are redefined to drive positive change in the region.

Hon. Erhiateke Ibori-Seun, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, praised the Commission’s Management Team for comprehensive documentation and pledged to speed up legislative action on the budget proposal.

Hon Ibori-Seun, who represents Ethiope-West Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, stated that the National Assembly is committed to transparency and improving the well-being of the Niger Delta people.