NASS Goes On Break, To Resume 2nd July

The Senate has adjourned its plenary session and went on recess to resume on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made this known while presiding over Tuesday’s plenary session on the floor of the Red Chamber.

Akpabio said the recess was to enable the lawmakers to participate in the activities marking the 2024 Democracy Day as well as the Senate’s end-of-session break, having been inaugurated on June 13, 2023.

The 10th National Assembly will be one year in office on Thursday, June 13.

Earlier, the Senate passed a total sum of N1.911 trillion as the 2024 statutory budget for the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The Senate approved the budget after the upper chamber considered the report of its committee on NDDC during plenary.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpeyoung (APC–Akwa Ibom South), presented the report.

According to the report, the NDDC proposes to borrow N1 trillion to fund its 2024 budget.

However, senators faulted the proposed borrowing saying it did not follow due process.

They urged that the commission work with relevant government agencies like the Debt Management Office and also comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act on the process of loan approval.

According to the report, the commission plans to spend N38.545 billion on personnel costs, N29.246 billion on overhead costs and N8.785 billion on internal capital.

The NDDC also projected N324 billion as the federal government’s contribution and N25 billion from the Ecological Fund.