House Of Representatives Gives Nod To NDDC Board Nominees

By Ayodele Oni

The House of Representatives has confirmed the nominees to the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Chairperson for the House Committee on NDDC, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, stated that this followed their appearance before the House ad-hoc committee mandated to conduct the screening on Thursday.

In her remarks, Ibori-Suenu, charged the Nominees to justify the confidence reposed in them by President President Bola Tinubu.

According to her, “Now, more than ever before, the NDDC needs visionary leaders with integrity to drive the discharge of the commission’s mandate, to translate to tangible impact on the lives of the people and communities in the Niger Delta.”

The screening exercise featured presentations by Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Chairman and Managing Director/CEO designates respectively, who shared details of their respective career trajectories, and vision for the commission.

The Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Ali Isa, moved the motion for the designates to take a bow in deference to the fact that the Senate had similarly screened and confirmed them, and also in consideration of the fact that some of the designates are former parliamentarians.

The motion was seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Abdullahi  Halims, and unanimously carried by the committee.

Consequent on the ad-hoc committee’s resolve to confirm all the designates, the National Assembly is expected to immediately transmit its resolution to the Presidency, haven effectively fulfilled Section 2 (2) (a) of the NDDC Act, which prescribes that the nominees must be screened and confirmed by the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives.

Those confirmed include: Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman (Delta); Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director/CEO (Bayelsa); Mr. Boma Iyaye, ED, Finance & Admin (Rivers); Mr. Victor Antai, ED, Projects (Akwa Ibom).

Others are Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, ED, Corporate Services (Ondo); Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa (Bayelsa); Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono (Akwa Ibom); Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya (Delta); Chief Tony Okocha State (Rivers); and Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Edo).

Representatives of states on the NDDC Board cleared are Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu State (Imo); Hon. Otitio Atikase (Ondo); Chief Dimgba Eruba (Abia); Rt. Hon Orok Otu Duke (Cross River); Hon. Nick Wende (North Central); Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak (North East); and Senator Dr. Ibrahim Gobir (North West).

The House leader, Prof. Julius Inhovbere,  charged them with the responsibility to chart a new course for the very critical interventionist agency, and be just and fair to all the communities.

He further advised the designates to be guided by the fear of God and respect for the constitution in the discharge of their duties, saying that “Nigerians expect to be proud of your achievements. You all owe the duty to Nigerians to perform. Justice for all is justice for one, and justice for one is justice for all.”