House Screens NDDC Board, Management Nominees

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday, screened the 17 nominees into the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The nominees appeared before the House ad hoc committee mandated to conduct the screening in Abuja.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, charged the designates to justify the confidence reposed in them by President Bola Tinubu.
Adding that more than ever before, the NDDC needed 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.

She stated that  the screening process for confirmation was in fulfilment of the provisions of Section 2 (2)(a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
The House however asked board chairman, Chiedu Ebie; Managing Director/CEO of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and other members to ‘take a bow and go’

Other nominees screened included: 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 State (Rivers); and Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Edo); 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 lawmakers further said  the board members were enjoying the privilege always extended to former members of the National Assembly appointed into executive positions who are always asked to “take a bow and go.”

The motion to allow the nominees to take a bow and go was moved by the Minority Whip Hon. Ali Isa, who commended the President for appointing some former members of the National Assembly to serve in the NDDC board.
 The  NDDC board chairman nominee, Ebie during his remarks said his cumulative experience in the public and private sector have adequately prepared him for the job.

“I assure you that as a chairman of the board if confirmed, I want to assure you of team work. We would work as a team. We would ensure we have a very harmoniously working relationship and also ensure that people-oriented projects and projects that are needs based would be executed by the commission”
The Managing Director nominee, Ogbuku, expressed gratitude to  Tinubu for reappointing him and promised that the new team would work hard to fulfil its mandate.

 “I thank the President for reappointing me and giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria and the Niger Delta. I also thank him  for handing me a team that is filled with men of character and high personality that are willing and ready to deliver for the people of the Niger Delta,” he said.

 The House Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere earlier expressed confidence in the pedigree of the members of the new board and urged them to do their best to deliver the mandate of NDDC.

 “Nigerians are watching. They expect the best of you. They expect to become very proud of your achievements in a very short time. So the ball will go back to your court after this grilling.

“I will make recommendations to the house. And as the chairman has said, each of you owe this country a duty to deliver and we want to plead with you also on behalf of the Speaker and the management of the House, that you recognise that justice for one is justice for all and justice for all is justice for one”