The Federal Executive Council has approved N722.3 million for eight field forensic auditors to audit the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The latest development was disclosed by the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Godswill Akpabio, after the virtual FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

The payment will come directly from the Presidency because the National Assembly is on break and the 2020 budget for the NDDC has not been passed.

The NDDC has become entrenched in a series of controversies over allegations of corruption in the award of contracts and the non-payment of Nigerian students who went abroad under the sponsorship of the commission.