NDDC: Why, Board, MD Are On War Path

Stakeholders within and outside the Niger Delta region are expressing concern over the continued crisis in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC that they fear may lead to a premature end of the present board.

At the centre of the crisis is the division between most members of the board and the management of the commission that has led to allegations of illegality on the part of the management in the running of the interventionist agency.

The first open admission of the crisis came when the managing director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku led many members of the commission to a PPP Summit organized at Eko Hotel Lagos three weeks ago. Remarkably, many members of the board including the chairperson, Ms Lauretta Onochie and even the chairman of the PPP committee of the NDDC, Mr Edema were absent at the PPP summit.

It was subsequently revealed that the board was not taken along in the organization of the summit. Besides the difference with the board, many people from the Niger Delta were taken aback with the decision of the NDDC management to organize a summit as important as the PPP summit outside the Niger Delta.

Even more fundamental was the decision to sign an MOU with an American company for the construction of a $15 billion rail network across the Niger Delta by the management. Ms Onochie, in a quick rebuttal disowned the MoU even as she brought to light fundamental issues as concerning the subjugation of the management to the board as enshrined in the NDDC establishment act.

While quoting copiously from the NDDC Act, she observed that

2. Everything about this shady “MOU” is illegal due to the following reasons:

(a) By the act establishing the NDDC(Act No 6, of 2000), it is the Chairman of the board that is solely vested with the power to sign MOUs with any organisation.

Part II of the NDDC Act, Section 8, sub sections (a) and (e), among other provisions, specifically state inter Alia;

The Board shall have power to:-

(a)manage and supervise affairs of the Commission,…

(e)enter into such contracts as may be necessary or expedient for the discharge of its functions and ensure the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.

And the Supplementary provision of the Act as relating to the Board (Section 4, sub-section 1) clearly retains the Seal of the Commission in the Office of the Chairman.

Even more, there have also been reports that the NDDC management did not submit the 2023 budget proposals of the agency to the board for vetting and approval before it was brought to the National Assembly.

That according to stakeholders is another frontline in the ongoing war between the board and the management.

There are insinuations that the management is determined to make the board useless in the affairs of the commission.

Meanwhile the fight became more intense after some interested parties went to court with the claim that the chairman, Onochie has about 18 aides.

Meanwhile, rumours are everywhere about moves by the presidency to brusquely deal with the crisis. There are insinuations that the board could be dissolved. That speculation according to reports may have also worsened the crisis with arrowheads reportedly working in overdrive to harvest what they can from the NDDC before the presidency serves the lethal blow.

Meanwhile, GWG.ng reports that some concerned interest groups have been working behind the scene with the apparent aim of trying to resolve the crisis.

One of such groups, the South-South Reawakening Group, SSRG, through its national coordinator, Comrade Joseph Ambakaderimo recently called out the Senate over its alleged hypocrisy in setting up another ad-hoc committee to probe the NDDC.

Noting that the same Senate had few years ago probed the NDDC, the SSRG questioned why the legislative body had failed to act on the report of its initial investigation.

The NDDC according to the SSRG is being feasted upon by the authorities with the aim of the legislative body harvesting what it can pull out ahead of the end of the legislative term.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG