The groups issued an ultimatum to the NEDC to respond to the allegations by March 15, after the commission failed to respond to a petition earlier sent to it by some Nigerians. According to the groups, the core allegations include corruption, financial misappropriation, and abuse of office.
The N146.19 billion was the budgetary allocation to the commission, but money has been paid in full for projects that still need to be completed or abandoned.
The abandoned projects include the construction of a central workshop in Maiduguri, Borno; the construction of Birma Primary School at Kashimbila in Taraba; the Madagali and Pinlla primary schools projects in Adamawa; the supply of equipment at the Eye Clinic Centre in Azare; the construction of the ICT training centre; construction of College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, all in Bauchi state; mass housing project in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State, and 200 mass housing units in Nguru as well as a 300 mass housing project in Damatutru, both in Yobe.
The two groups have conducted a thorough investigation of the claims in the petitions and are awaiting the response of the NEDC. The NEDC's Head of Corporate Services, Mr Abba Musa, denied the allegations, describing them as baseless. Still, the two groups remain firm in their commitment to ensuring accountability in handling public funds.