President Muhammadu Buhari has authorised the application of N6.25 billion by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as intervention support to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in the nine states that make up the commission.
The materials and supplies are to be done through Emergency Procurement method as provided in Sections 42(b) (c) and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
The president has also extended the tenure of the Professor Keme Pondei-led Interim Management Committee of the NDDC from May 1 to December 31, 2020.
A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) in Abuja on Thursday, explained that the extension is to cover the period of the forensic audit of the NDDC earlier approved by the Federal Executive Council.
In a related development, NDDC said it had sent some key officials on mandatory leave, pending the conclusion and outcome of the ongoing forensic audit of the commission.
According to the commission, the staff sent on mandatory leave are those indicted for acts of impropriety by the Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).