The candidates for the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been scrutinized by the House of Representatives. On Thursday, the nominees came before the House Ad Hoc Committee charged with conducting the vetting.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu charged the nominees upon their anticipated confirmation, to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying, “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 NDDC Chairman and Managing Director/CEO nominees, Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, gave presentations during the screening process where they discussed their respective career paths and goals for the commission.
Then, in recognition of the fact that the Senate had similarly reviewed and confirmed the nominees, as well as the fact that some of the nominees are former legislators, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ali Isa, moved the motion for the nominees to take a bow. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, Deputy Leader of the House, seconded the resolution, which the committee unanimously approved.
Consequent to the screening exercise, the committee is expected to submit its report and recommendations during plenary. Upon confirmation by the House, the National Assembly is expected to immediately transmit its resolution to the Presidency, having 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.
The nominees screened included: 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); 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 (Rivers); and Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Edo).
Others 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 nominees would be expected to steer the vital interventionist agency in a new direction while also being just and fair to all the communities, according to the House leader, Hon. Prof. Julius Inhovbere. When the nominees were confirmed, he gave them a warning to carry out their responsibilities with the fear of God and respect for the law, stressing that “Nigerians expect to be proud of your achievements. Justice for all is justice for one, and justice for one is justice for all, he remarked, urging everyone to fulfill their obligation to Nigerians.
