The Nation
23 December 2011
The House of Representatives has said it passed the 2011 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to sustain the peace in the region.
The House passed the NDDC N261 billion budget last Tuesday.
It blamed the Executive for the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) but commended itself for passing 10 bills within six months of its inauguration.
At a briefing yesterday, Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, Albert Sam-Tsokwa said lawmakers were compelled to attend to the budget because of the negative effects its non-consideration might have on the economy.
He said: “There is no way we will talk about 2012 budget without the 2011 budget.
“It is to tell the Niger Delta people that we have no interest in keeping the bill, having satisfied ourselves that all the funds are appropriately placed.
“Would it have made any sense to delay the budget for the ex-militants to go back to the creeks? ”
The Chairman also said the Executive should be blamed for the delay in the passage of the PIB.
He said the bill was sponsored by the Executive in the last Assembly but the current House decided to re-introduce it when it became apparent that the Executive was not ready to re present it.
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