On Tuesday, December 20, the Nigerian Senate confirmed Lauretta Onochie as the new chair of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This is according to the official Twitter. bill of the Nigerian Senate.
The new chairperson, Lauretta Onochie, appears to have her work cut out for her as the NDDC has been labeled ineffective by critics, highlighting the fact that the Niger Deltas are still fighting for welfare and development after the commission left. first established during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2000.
In an interview on the Morning Show on Arise TV on Tuesday, December 20, a lawyer and former president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee, spoke about the ineffectiveness of the NDDC.
According to him, the NDDC cannot be said to have achieved any purpose after its creation to improve the lives of people in the region. He went further to say that the people of the Niger Delta cannot point to anything that the NDDC has done for their benefit.
Challenges that NDDC must address
During the interview, Mitee said that he would not advocate removing the NDDC, but that it should be done to address the following challenges:
Prevent the NDDC from being an instrument of politics: Mitee said that the NDDC has become a financial misappropriation tool for politicians, especially during the election period. According to him, the NDDC has done a good job of not being an intervention agency for the people of the Niger Delta and that has to stop.
Actual compliance with the NDDC Act: Mitee highlighted the fact that the NDDC Act should be a guide for decisions made by all stakeholders. He gave an example of the type of people the Act recommends to constitute the Board of the NDDC. According to Mitee, the Board should be made up of professionals who understand the industry and not politicians or politically exposed people.
Assign contracts that are fully executed: He asked that the NDDC stop awarding contracts that are never executed. According to Mitee, there have been several cases of money being spent on contracts that did not exist. He said:
- “There was a House hearing on NDDC which was a national disgrace, no one has been punished as a result of that. So to me, everything that is happening is also to show disdain for due process and also for the fact that there is no interest in the development of the Niger Delta.”
Establish projects that really benefit people: Mitee requested that the NDDC stop the implementation of projects that are not sustainable. Mitee said that people in the Niger Delta have witnessed the commissioning of water projects that only work during the commissioning ceremony.
- He highlighted the fact that NDDC projects are not sustainable for people. He gave an example of starting a water project in a rural community where the well is powered by a diesel generator.
- Meanwhile, poor people in the community cannot afford to buy diesel to run the generator. He also said that the generator used in the start-up could have been borrowed.
- He went further by stating that when people are true beneficiaries of NDDC projects, they will embrace NDDC and become spokespersons for NDDC.
For the record: Other people confirmed alongside Lauretta Onochie include; Dimgba Erugba from Abia State representing South East as a member.
- Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills from Akwa-Ibom State representing South-South as a member.
- Elder Sen. Dimaro Denyanbofa from Bayelsa State representing Sur-Sur as a member.
- Honorable Orok Duke of Cross River State representing Sur-Sur as a member.
- Honorable Gbenga Edema of Ondo State representing the South West as a member.
- Elekwachi Dinkpa from Rivers State representing South-South as a member.
- alh. Mohammed Kabir Abubakar from Nasarawa State representing North Central as a member.
- alh. Sule-Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami from Kebbi State representing North-West as a member.
- Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, OON, from Adamawa State representing the North East as a member.
- Bayelsa State Head Dr Samuel Ogbuku represented South-South as CEO for two years to complete his predecessor’s unexpired term in office.
- Major General Charles Airhiavbere of Edo State representing South-South as Executive Director (Finance).
- Charles B. Ogunmola of Ondo State representing South West as Executive Director (Projects).
… Challenges Lauretta Onochie Faces as NDDC President Read more at … Naijaonpoint.