Names of NDDC Board Members have been transmitted to the Senate for screening.
Newsonline reports that the Niger Delta Affairs Minister Umana Umana has confirmed that the names of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) substantive board members have been transmitted to the Senate for screening.
This online news understands that Umana further revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari, who sent the board members’ names to the Senate, had not only authorized the release of the commission’s recovered fund but gave him the nod to present NDDC’s 2023 budget.
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He expressed delight that with the developments, some of the factors impeding the intervention agency’s operation would be addressed.
Newsonline reports that the minister spoke when he was led by the acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, to the Ahoada axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State, washed away by ravaging flood.
During the inspection, Umana ordered the commission’s management to mobilise a contractor to fix the damaged portions of the road.
Umana said: “Some of the impending matters that impeded the performance of the commission have been dealt with.
“For those matters, I have presidential approval for the transmission of the 2021/2022 budget of the commission. I also have presidential approval that recovered funds be released. The President directed that those funds should be used to fund core infrastructural projects in the region.
“I am also happy to state that some of the serious pending issues, like the absence of the NDDC board, have also been addressed and as we speak, Mr. President has transmitted the names of members of the board to the Senate and I do know that on resumption, the Senate would act on it.”
The minister, who expressed shock at the level of devastation on the East-West Road, especially at Ihieke, a community in Ahoada, said that 31 states were affected by the flood.
He said: “The Federal Government is handling this(flood) through a concerted approach, which will involve many agencies of government including the military personnel, who are now helping by using helicopters to get to sites that are not accessible.
“What I have seen here in Ahoada, I am directing the NDDC to intervene immediately. They are already making arrangements to bring a contractor to access what needs to be done on the road so that it can become accessible again.”
Umana also ordered the NDDC to provide relief materials to all persons displaced by the flood in the region, saying that such intervention must be comprehensive.
“When we talk about relief it is a whole package. The relief will come in various forms, materials, health support, women children among others”, he said.
The minister, who later toured the corporate headquarters of the commission, told the workers that the NDDC would be repositioned in line with the expectations of President Buhari.
He told the management and members of staff that henceforth, things must be done differently.
His words: “I have informed the management and staff that moving forward we expect things to be done differently so that we can have value for the main purpose of the commission.
”We have emphasised the need for full compliance with the provisions of the Procurement Act. The lack of adherence to the Procurement Act led to some of the excesses.
”Imagine a situation where one man will award contracts with no reference to the tenders board of the commission or the tenders committee of the Federal Executive Council.
“I have made it clear that it will no longer be tolerated, those who indulge In contract meetings and award contracts without due process will be held accountable.
“I have been assured by management that indeed there will be commitment, things will change. It is a new era and a new day for the commission.”
Audu-Ohwavborua restated the assurances given by the minister on addressing the challenges posed by the flood.
He said: “NDDC shall within the coming days, engage and mobilize Setraco Construction Company to the failed and un-motorable sections of the East-West Road linking Rivers and its neighbouring states.
“The NDDC as an interventionist agency will complement the efforts of both the Federal and State Governments by providing relief materials to those affected by this unfortunate disaster and boats will be provided soon to ease the stress commuters face on a daily basis.”
