flood control provisions measures in the 2024 budget of the Niger Delta Development Commission under the regional provision.
They also called for the provision of Internally Displaced Persons camps in the Local Government Areas of the region for flood impact reduction.
This was contained in a communique issued to newsmen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, after a two-day Partners for Sustainable Development Budget Conference on the proposed NDDC 2024 Budget tagged, “Budget of Reconstruction” held at the Ibom Icon Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from Monday.
The stakeholders said that the need for flood control provisions in the budget became necessary due flood predictions and impact on the region.
The resolutions which were contained in the communique partly read, “That due to flood predictions and impact on the region, there is need for provisions for flood control measures in the 2024 Budget under regional provision, as well as provision of IDP camps in the LGAs of the region for flood impact reduction.”
According to the communique which was signed by the NDDC management, the participants resolved also that the commission should operate a lean budget to allow it to commence and complete projects within a certain and realistic budget cycle, and that less of new projects should be captured in 2025 budget in order to ensure the quick completion of all ongoing projects under the 2024 budget.
They also resolved that there was a need for the Commission to strike a balance between meeting the political demands and serving the people of the region by executing people-centric projects.
It further stated, “The Commission should operate a lean budget that will allow and enable her to commence and complete projects within a certain and realistic budget cycle. The budget of the Commission should spread to cover the several ethnic nationalities and communities in the Region.
“For the 2025 budget, less of new projects should be captured in order to ensure the quick completion of all ongoing projects under the 2024 budget.
“The timeline for payment of contractors should not exceed 45 days, allowing for 15 days buffer after which penalties will accrue for non-payment of contractors. That a town hall meeting and engagement of the several ethnic nationalities of the region be convoked prior to budget sessions.:
The statement added, “This is to ensure that the budget receives inputs from the people directly. That completed projects should be removed from the budget to allow for more new projects to be introduced into the budget.
“To ensure equity amongst all the LGAs regarding the 2024 budget, the Commission should identify deserving ongoing projects with significant completion status and where the funds committed to such projects are insufficient, funds may be drawn from the legacy debt to augment”
