NDDC Plum Job: Ondo Loses To Delta

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State has lost out in the quest to get the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) plum job as an acting Managing Director has been appointed for the Commission.

He is Engr. Emmanuel Audu Ohwavborua, an Urhobo, from Delta State.

This came hours after the Commission’s Sole Administrator, Mr Effiong Okon Akwa, was relieved of his appointment.

Ondo State has pushed forward the name of Gbenga Edema, a lawyer for appointment as NDDC helmsman.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Press in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Patricia Deworitshe, Akwa’s disengagement was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akwa was NDDC’s Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration until his appointment as the Interim Administrator in December 2020.

His appointment was meant to last the period of forensic audit of the Commission.

The President received the final report of the forensic audit in September 2021, and there have been agitations that a board be constituted for the NDDC.

The statement further said: “President Buhari has also approved the constitution of a new Management Team and Governing Board of the NDDC in line with Section 5(2) of the NDDC Act 2020.

“The names of the nominees for the new Management Team and Governing Board are to be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval”