A group, Niger Delta Network, has urged the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari to constitute without further delay a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission in accordance with its enabling Act.
The group while commending the president’s intervention in the region and recent overhauling of the NDDC said the commission had overstayed without a substantive board.
The group’s Director of Public Communication, Dr. John Douglas, in a statement on Saturday, said the board’s constitution would aid the efficient management of the commission.
“We want to appeal to Mr President to consider constituting a proper Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as the Commission has overstayed without a substantive Board. According to facts, since NDDC was established in 2020, this is the longest time that the Commission has existed without a properly constituted board as mandated by the law.
“As much as the people of the Niger Delta region love and appreciate the President, they are equally not happy about this continuous delay to set up a proper Board for the Commission and it has become a burning issue in the region. We, therefore, call on the President to kindly act in this regard,” the statement read in part.
While declaring that the group will continue to be a partner in progress for Niger Delta region and NDDC, it commended Buhari for the appointment of Obong Umana Okon Umana as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs.
“We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Obong Umana Okon Umana as Minister for Niger Delta Affairs. Obong Umana Umana is an experienced administrator with over 30 years in public office. We are fully aware of the fact that he is purpose-driven and result-oriented, which explains the successes he has consistently recorded in all the offices he has served over years including the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), where he was the Managing Director before his Ministerial appointment.
“We further thank Mr President for not only assuring the people of Niger Delta region his commitment to the development of the area, but backing up his assurance with actions through his timely interventions, programmes and policies. As a foremost group in the region, we have sampled opinions and consulted widely across all the states in the region, and the general reactions from the people point to the fact that the region has enjoyed tangible benefits including political appointments and physical development under the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have carefully followed the activities of Obong Umana Umana since he assumed office as Minister in charge of Niger Delta Ministry, and our findings show that he hit the ground running, making conscious efforts to follow the established mandate of the Ministry as indicated in the ministerial action plan. We are especially grateful for the directive to NDDC to recommence its scholarship programme for our youths in highee institutions. Furthermore, it is heartwarming that Mr Umana has refused to be distracted by the antics of some enemies of progress within the region who are opposed to the current efforts to reinforce transparency, accountability, and values of public service in the Ministry and NDDC,” the statement added.
