National
Niger Delta Activist, Ambakederimo Wants FG Contribution To NDDC Raised To 25%
Elder Joseph Ambakederimo, National Coordinator, South South Reawakening Group, SSRG has called for an increase in the Federal Government contribution to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to 25% saying the present 15% has become untenable.
Speaking at a media roundtable to mark his 62nd birthday on August 15, 2023, Ambakaderimo also advocated for an increase of the contributions from the oil and gas companies to 10% from the present 3%.
While reviewing the trajectory of the NDDC from its formation in 2000, civil rights activist lamented the series of political interference in the affairs of the commission lamenting that the failure of the government to produce the report of the forensic audit conducted under the stewardship of Senator Godswill Akpabio has made stakeholders to lose confidence in the NDDC.
While noting that the present leadership of the NDDC has the potential to inspire growth and confidence, Ambakaderimo said:
The NDDC and the Niger Delta Oil producing areas development is the focus of my yearly birthday Breakfast Media chat. A surgical analysis, appraisal, and recommendations shall be laid bare for us to make appreciable progress and meet the aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta Oil producing areas.
The forensic audit of the operations of the NDDC initiated by the former Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, apart from whatever gains it recorded, succeeded primarily in erasing any form of citizen’s confidence in the commission.
The verdict of the forensic audit was more likely to a recommendation for the scrapping of the commission for gross failure. Now the reality in the Niger Delta region, in the creeks and swamps, is a general feeling of apathy and the indifference to the workings and vision of the NDDC. The commission can only win if it has the buy-in and support of the people if they collectively take ownership of the commission and join hands to achieve the Niger Delta of our dream.
Granted that years of mismanagement and massive misappropriation and diversion of the NDDC funds have eroded citizen’s interest in the affairs of the commission, it will also be beneficial to point out that the NDDC as an interventionist agency is not a complete failure as projected.
The commission has to its credit, long list of projects completed and ongoing in the region. There are roads that have cut through Virgin forests, bridges built to access the remotest hamlets in far flung creeks, electricity and portable water provided, landing jetties provided, human capital development achieved and many more. The present leadership has also shown the readiness to build on these achievements going by the pronouncement of the policy direction of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku in cultivating the public private partnership initiative to bring about the crystalization of actionable programme of the NDDC.
The misconception is simple, the drumming of the failure of the commission which could either be political or pecuniary, has stifled whatever achievements it has recorded. The greatest disservice that has happened to the NDDC is the political interference in the affairs of the commission. The political interference is responsible for the high turnover of appointment of officials to oversee the workings of the commission and this hasn’t gone down well as it impacts negetively on the performance of even persons who may have the will power to bring positive change to the region, because they are been removed when they are almost getting set to seat properly to work.
Therefore in this circumstance how would one hold anyone to account for it’s stewardship.This must be looked into by President Bola Tinubu to ensure that appointed persons must serve out their tenure and this has to start with the present management team headed by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, so that a clear cut demonstration of seriousness on the part of government can be seen by the people. The record has to be set straight, the people should be convinced beyond reasonable doubt with proof of the will power on the part of government to do things differently this time around.
Another issue that has to be touched is the funding of the commission taking into cognizance the present economic realities on ground. We will advocate more funding should be made available to the commission for it to meet the ever increasing demands of the oil producing communities. Amounts that are in excess of Three Trillion are short remitted to the NDDC by the Federal government. The Federal government is hereby urged to show magnanimity and release these funds to the commission as soon as possible.
Section 14 sub section 2 (a) – (c) of the Act establishing the commission clearly states how the commission shall be funded amongst others.
RECOMMENDATIONS :
1. Political interference should be curtailed to stem the high turnover of appointment of the members of the board of management. If this is not discouraged then at what point do we now hold people to account. Therefore it is my considered opinion that this present management team is allowed to continue to hold sway so that we can begin to hold them to account. Anything short of this becomes counterproductive to the development of the oil producing areas. At this point, President Bola Tinubu is urged to stay the course on this matter of allowing this management team headed by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku to continue to complete it’s tenure and only appoint the Board to complement the efforts of the management team.
2. The fifteen percent contribution from the Federal government has become inadequate therefore we are calling on the President to immediately send an executive bill for the amendment of relevant sections of the NDDC establishment Act to increase it’s share of contribution to 25%.
3. The 3% contribution from the oil and gas companies increased to 10%.
4. Ecological fund should be increased to 70%
5. An appreciable percentage of gas flare charge should be paid to the NDDC.
6. NDDC should be considered to benefit from the recent and future windfall of revenue shared to various entities by the Federal government.
We call for all of these recommendations because it is the NDDC that reaches the remotest communities that produces oil and gas that fuels the Nigerian economy. These communities bears the brunt of ecological deverstation therefore more funds should be ceded to the NDDC to continue to provide infrastructure and a better life to the inhabitants of these communities.
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