The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Monday revealed that 60% of Contracts awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, were awarded to National Assembly Members.
Akpabio during the House investigative hearing on Monday also accused the House of Representatives Committee investigating financial mismanagement in the NDDC of bullying him.
The House is grilling Akpabio as the supervising minister of the NDDC.
The investigative hearing is being held at the Conference Room 231 of the House.
Akpabio said the biggest beneficiaries of contracts are lawmakers.
The minister while testifying before the oboe said 60% of NDDC contracts were awarded to members of the National Assembly.
“We all know that most of the contracts at NDDC are given to members of the national assembly,” he said.
He was then interrupted by the members of the committee who asked him to give clarifications on other issues.
Earlier, the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei, had collapsed while being grilled by the lawmakers.
But when the hearing resumed, the committee Chairman asked the minister if the three major projects he had carried out had the approval of the Federal Executive Council.
Akpabio, who was interrupted while answering the question, said, “Mr Chairman, the condition, where we are in now, does not require bullying, with due respect.”
However, the Chairman responded, “We are not bullying you, honourable minister. Answer the question directly. You know you are my leader. An uncommon leader.”