Again, NDDC scholars protest in London

Again, NDDC scholars protest in London

By Tasie Theodore

Despite clarifications from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, that it had paid up on its obligations to its scholars in the United Kingdom, no less than two dozen of them have reportedly staged another protest in front of the Nigeria High Commission in London Wednesday.

The protesters who claim to have been beneficiaries of the oil commission’s scholarship scheme since 2018 are insisting that there remain unsettled commitments due to them.

It will be recalled that NDDC spokesman, Mr. Charles Odili had in a statement made available to the media recently affirmed that the commission was suspicious of the protests and the motives of the protesters, as they may now being linked to unwholesome motives.

‘In 2018, the Commission paid a total of $900,000.00 (Nine hundred Thousand Dollars) only to cover the Commission’s obligations to its scholars.

“In 2019, the amount paid rose to a total of $3.5million (Three million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) only. Recently, the IMC paid out a total of $5.99m (Five Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety Thousand Dollars) to cover all the verified obligations to our scholars.

“Now, there is a demand for an additional payment of $3million (Three Million Dollars), bringing the total to an alarming $9million (Nine Million Dollars),” Mr Odili had outlined in the statement.

Continuing, he stated that quite a number of discrepancies had already been noted from the Interim Report of the audit that was presently being carried out on the accounts of the NDDC.