A coalition of youth groups in the Niger Delta region are set for a showdown with the Federal Government over alleged mismanagement of funds by the management and Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Ahead of a planned mass rally in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, the groups, working under the aegis of the Niger Delta Justice and Mass Movement (NDJMM), have handed a seven-day ultimatum to the authorities at the NDDC within which to make available specific information on the funds and activities at the interventionist agency or face legal action.
Besides, the youths have also taken their case to the international community and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for intervention and a probe into the activities at the NDDC, alleging procedural irregularities in the award of contracts and other acts of corruption.
Riding on the platform of the provisions of the Freedom of Information(FoI) Act, the coalition has through an Abuja-based legal firm, Ifeanyi Nrialike & Co, requested the management of the NDDC to provide details of financial position of the agency, and contracts awarded.
In a letter to the managing director of the NDDC, Dr. Chris Oboh ,dated June 18, 2012, and signed on their behalf by their counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Nrialike, the youths specifically demanded to be availed with information on the total sum of funds which had accrued to the Commission from the inauguration of the present Governing Board on November 28, 2011.
They also want to be informed on the amount of money received as allocation from the Federal Government, donor organizations, and internally generated revenue through the Companies Registration Department of the Commission, as well as names of companies awarded contracts; specific contracts awarded since the inception of the current Governing Board, and the value for each contract.
In the same vein, they want information on funds disbursed by the Board since November 28, 2011, payments made to companies undertaking ongoing projects, title of projects; amount of money so far paid, and proof of remittance of the various taxes collected by the Commission to the appropriate quarters.
