Reps pass N315bn budget for NDDC

The House of Representatives on Wednesday in Abuja, passed the 2013 budget of N315 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The breakdown of the budget revealed that N15 billion was approved for personnel costs while capital expenditure got N2 billion.

Overhead expenditure had N11 billion, while N286 billion was allocated for development projects of the commission.

Earlier, Rep. Nicholas Mutu (PDP-Delta), the Chairman, House Committee on NDDC, expressed optimism that the budget would enhance the operations of the commission.

Also, the House passed a Bill seeking to provide for the right of appeal from the Industrial Court to the Court of Appeal for second reading,

The bill also seeks an Act to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

This is with a view to providing for the right to appeal judgments from the industrial court to court of appeal.

Leading debate on the general principle of the bill, Rep. Friday Itulah (PDP-Edo), said the bill, if passed, would give litigants the opportunity to appeal to court of superior jurisdiction.

He said that the passage of the bill would also mean that judgments from the industrial court would no longer be final, but open to appeal.

“Judgements that are arriving from the industrial courts should be appealable to the court of appeal, and if litigants are not satisfied, should appeal to a superior court.’’

Rep. Ossai Ossai (PDP-Delta), and Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), also spoke in support of the proposed legislation.

However, Rep. Kamil Akinlabi ( PDP- Oyo), Uzoma Abonta (PDP-Abia) and Dan Abia (PDP-Akwa Ibom), spoke against the bill.

They argued that it was not necessary to amend the constitution.

“The National Industrial Court, a creation of the Act of National assembly, is a special court to solely take charge of labour matters.

“We don’t need to subject the industrial court to constitution amendment, it is a court established to expeditiously resolve labour and trade disputes”, Uzo Azubuike (PDP) Abia said.

The opposition notwithstanding, the bill scaled through its second reading and the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, referred it to the Special Ad- hoc Committee on the review of the Constitution. (NAN)