Ogbuku Cautions NDDC’s Staff against Partisanship

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has charged the staff of the commission to always be professional in the discharge of their duties, advising that they should not dabble into politics or spread negative stories about the commission for selfish or ethnic interests.

Ogbuku gave the advice during a meeting with the new Executive Management and staff of the Commission at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

He said that the new leadership in the commission has resolved to buy into a common vision that will be in the best interest of the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, who assured them  that members of the Board would work in one accord to impact positively on the lives of the people of Nigeria’s oil-rich region, urged the staff to play a positive role to ensure that there was harmony among the board members and the management.

He stated: “I am glad that we now have a compatible team that is poised to deliver the best services to the people of the Niger Delta region. I feel more relaxed now that we are set to go on full steam. We have to work hands in glove to change the face and fortunes of our region.”

Ogbuku stressed: “We will not allow people to come between us to sow seeds of discord. It is in the interest of the staff and all stakeholders that the management team is united.”

The NDDC CEO observed that one of the major challenges the commission faced in the past was the frequent changes of the board and management.

 He assured them that the executive management would continue to pay attention to staff welfare to create a conducive atmosphere for optimal performance and efficient service delivery.

The MD appealed to staff not to mislead the new executive directors by playing the ethnic card or swaying to primordial sentiments, cautioning that the Executive Management should be allowed to work for the benefit of the entire Niger Delta region.

He stated that the new board was made up of men who are grounded in knowledge and varied experiences, noting that the members, being well endowed in their various disciplines, would surely deliver the needed benefits for the growth of the Niger Delta region.

He declared: “I am confident that the tenure of this Board will be peaceful and productive.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Boma Iyaye, re-echoed the views of the MD on the need to prioritise staff welfare, stating: “All we ask from the staff is cooperation and diligence to their duties.”

Also, the Executive Director Projects, Victor Antai, stated that the new board was poised to succeed. “Where others failed, this team will not fail,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the staff, the Chairman of NDDC Staff Union, Anthony Gbendo, applauded the MD for facilitating the approval of the staff conditions of service, which he said was delayed for several years.

He pledged the support and loyalty of his members to the new Board to ensure that they succeeded in their assignment.