The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, says that the Governance Advisory Report from the multinational business management consultancy firm KPMG provides the tool for the realisation of the Commission’s transition from transaction to transformation policy.
According to a press release on Tuesday, 21st January 2025, signed by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Ogbuku, who spoke during the presentation of the KPMG advisory report at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, expressed the Commission’s eagerness to proceed to the implementation phase of the new governing system.
Emphasising the document’s importance, he said: “This report will serve as a guide once the board adopts it. When approved, it becomes a policy statement that every directorate and department of the NDDC can use.”
“Be assured that when it comes to the implementation stage, we will follow it to the letter. This document is coming at the right time when the NDDC has a functional budget, and it will work side by side with the budget.”
He stated that the NDDC must ensure that a new institutional culture anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance is in place to improve its internal processes and institutional protocols.
The NDDC boss said the report would provide advisory services to the Commission on global best practices, corporate governance culture, and internal processes. He noted that the governance structure would strengthen the Commission by instituting lasting internal regulations.
Speaking earlier, a KPMG Manager, Mr. Olugbenga Afuwape, said the Governance Advisory Report was structured into seven policy documents, including six charters, covering risk management, internal controls, stakeholder engagement, board policies, and key management policies.
He promised that KPMG would continue to offer its skills and experience to improve NDDC’s internal processes and ensure accountability and transparency.
In his remarks, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Hon. Alabo Boma Iyaye, commended the initiative to review the Commission’s governing structure, describing it as timely and assuring that all recommendations would be implemented.
He noted that the Governance Advisory report would enhance the service delivery of the NDDC, which will result in stakeholder satisfaction.
Similarly, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, applauded KPMG for its thorough work and stated that the partnership with the NDDC would help the Commission reform and transform.
