President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has on Thursday, barred the Interim Management of the Niger Development Commission (NDDC) from defending the agency’s 2020 budget.

Lawan, while referring President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to the Senate Committee on NDDC, directed the panel to deal strictly with members the Governing Board of the agency recently screened and approved by the Senate.

“I want to also reiterate here that you (Senate Committee on NDDC) deal with the governing board this Senate has approved,” Lawan said while referring the agency budget proposals for 2020 to the Senate Committee on NDDC for further legislative work.

The Senate had earlier faulted the rationale behind the submission of the 2020 budget of the NDDC while members of the governing board of the agency already cleared by the have not assumed duty.

It could be recalled that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, had appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the agency, the clearance of nominated Board members notwithstanding.

Senate had described the Interim Management as an anomaly when an approved body is not allowed to assume duties as board members.

Members of the NDDC Governing Board confirmed by the Senate include a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu and Bernard Okumagba as Chairman and Managing Director respectively.

Others are Executive Director Projects, Engr. Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director Finance and Administration, Maxwell Okoh from Bayelsa State, Delta State representative, Prophet Jones Erue; Chief Victor Ekhator (Edo) and Nwogu Nwogu (Abia), Theodore Allison, representing Bayelsa State, Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River); Olugbenga Elema (Ondo) and Hon. Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo).

Also confirmed were the Northeast representative, Ardo Zubairu from Adamawa state, Ambassador Abdullahi Bage from Nasarawa State to represent the North Central zone as well as Aisha Murtala Muhammed, from Kano State, to represent the Northwest Zone.

However, while the Senate was busy with the consideration processes, the Niger Delta Affairs Minister appointed a 3-man Interim Management Committee to over activities of the Commission.

Those appointed by Akpabio included the Acting Managing Director, Dr. Joi Nunieh, Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang and the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.