The Senate has summoned the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, over several allegations including an alleged plot to siphon N480 billion intervention fund belonging to the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) and domicile it in the Central Bank of Nigeria without the approval of the National Assembly.
Umana, who replaced Senator Godswill Akpabio as minister, is expected to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Ayo Akinyelure upon receipt of petition being investigated by the panel.
According to the petition, the minister has perfected plans to seek Presidential approval to use the money on special projects not appropriated by the National Assembly.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, Senator Akinyelure said the authority of appropriation is conferred on the National Assembly and not the President.
He said, “There is N480B funds in a CBN account.
“Umana Umana is said to have perfected ways to present some new projects to President Muhammadu Buhari to approve it for him to start using the money to implement projects that is not appropriated by National Assembly.
“The power of appropriation is conferred on the National Assembly not on Mr. President. Mr. President, can only give approval for service Wide Votes when the money appropriated by the National Assembly is not adequate to implement some projects meant for a particular, state or region.”
Akinyelure noted that several other allegations were levelled against the minister including his refusal to forward two annual budgets of the NDDC to the National Assembly for approval.
This is even as money is being spent by the commission on the orders of the minister, thereby taken the power of appropriations on himself.
“The president has in his wisdom deemed it fit to appropriate funds to the Niger Delta region but the minister has refused to bring the appropriation before the National Assembly for us democratically elected representatives of the people to give approval, they have refused to do so. There are a lot of higher level mismanagement of resources due to develop the Niger Delta region.
“Because we are entering an election year, this is the fear of the Niger Delta people. We are entering an election year. We have less than seven months for Mr. President to say bye bye to Nigeria and he has a legacy to prove that he loves (the country).
“Why must the budget of 2021 and 2022 to be held by the minister by collaborating with some people who do not love the people of the Niger Delta region not to bring his budget for National Assembly when we are ready to pass the budget of NDDC.
“The budget of other similar agencies brought by their ministers and they have been approved by the National Assembly,” the Senator added.
On the allegations, Umana is also summoned to explain why he sacked over 100 NDDC staff, increasing the unemployment rate in the country.
Akinyelure stated that, “On his assumption of office as the Minister of Nigeria Delta Affairs, he sacked over 100 staff to compound the problem of Nigerians. We have received documentary evidence to back this allegation.
“He is there in the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry to pursue personal agenda, instead of pursuing the agenda of the people of Niger Delta region.
Similarly, the minister was also accused of plotting to sack the current Sole Administrator of NDDC, Effiong Akwa who was appointed by President Buhari and have him replaced by one of his cronies.
The petition before the Senate also accused Umana of deliberate refusal to inaugurate the NDDC board.
The Senator, therefore, disclosed that the minister have been invited to appear before the committee on November 10 to provide answers to all the allegations.
“We are giving you a fair hearing to come on the 10th of November to come and defend these allegations and say no, you never make any attempt to remove the appointee of Mr. President,” he stated.
