NDDC: Cairo Ojougboh refutes claims of N20m, N15m palliatives to Senators, Reps

The Executive Director (Projects), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, has refuted claims that the agency gave federal lawmakers money.

Ojougboh was alleged to have earlier said that Senators and House of Representatives members received N20 million and N15 million respectively as COVID-19 palliatives.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ojougboh said he neither issued nor made such a statement, adding that there was no such provision in NDDC budget.

Dr. Ojougboh stated that he would have resisted such a payment if it were ever brought up by the commission.

He noted that the Interim Management Committee has championed a campaign to cleanse the commission of obvious corruption and frivolous payments, and restore it to its core mandate of facilitating the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.

“I and the IMC, as well as the Commission, have been clear to state that the National Assembly, as a distinguished body, as well as the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, are absolved of blame. Indeed, the main body of the National Assembly is unaware of the questionable happenings in the NDDC,” he said.

Ojougboh said malicious lies against him show the extent people can go to bring harm to individuals and cause disaffection among people and between institutions.

He added that his service Nigeria “and love for the wellbeing of the Niger Delta region and our people will not allow me to denigrate the lofty institution such as the National Assembly, an important beacon of our collective democratic journey.”

Ojougboh stressed that being a former member of the National Assembly, he holds the institution in the highest esteem.

“I have always stated that I am a man of peace and a soldier of truth. I have enough integrity and honour to stand by my statements. And let it be affirmed here that I do not issue statements on behalf of the Commission”, his statement read.