FG charges NDDC board, mgt on collaboration for development of N/Delta

 

.As Chairman urges stakeholders to support commission’s efforts

By Akaiso Eyo, Uyo.

 

 

As the newly constituted board of Niger Delta Development Commission settles down for business, the federal government has charged it to collaborate with management staff of the agency for effective development of the Niger Delta region.

 

The secretary to the government of the federation SGF, Boss Mustafa gave the charge at Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort, Uyo over the weekend during the just concluded four day retreat organized for Niger Delta Development Commission board and Management staff.

 

 

Represented by the permanent secretary, general services office (GSO), office of the secretary to the Government of the federation, Dr. Mbaeri Maurice Nnamdi, FCA, Jp who presented a position paper titled “management and board relationship in agencies and parrastals.”

“What I presented is the position of the law as regards the ‘dos’ and  ‘don’t’ of official practice between the management and boards.

“Mandate of the board is very clear. It is for them to bring development to the Niger Delta region.”

 

On the issue of abandoned projects in the region, he refused to comment on the ground that he doesn’t have enough details to guide his comments, but observed that whenever there is crisis between the Board members and Management staff there would be availability of unused funds and the resultant effect is stoppage of development.

 

“For this current board the charge from the presidency to them is to drive development of the Niger Delta region, not to go and engage in frivolous adventure, and deviate from achieving the aspirations of the President to improve the living conditions of the people of the region.”

 

 

The permanent secretary who also spoke on the role of the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, said the office is saddled with responsibility to monitor the implementation of government policies and programmes and has not relented in doing that ever.

 

 

“It makes sure government policies as enshrined in the respective establishment acts as directed by the presidency are pursued with vigor to exactly what every parrastals or agency is charged to do.

“In doing that they are guided by extant rules and regulations to make sure that government programmes are effectively implemented,” he added.

 

The retreat featured so many paper presentations by various professionals, including health talk by Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Prof Emem Bassey whose lecture gave insight into a lot of issues participants hitherto didn’t give heed.

 

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs.  Lauretta Onochie, has urged stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to support the Board and Management to enable them actualise the mandate of the Commission.

 

Onochie said that it was imperative that all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, including the staff of the Commission, support the vision of the new leadership in NDDC.

 

She appealed to Niger Deltans to be part of the changes that were beginning to manifest in the drive to reposition the NDDC and ensure that it became an effective interventionist agency.

 

 

 

Onochie said: “I urge all our stakeholders to embrace the new spirit of change so that we can all join hands to turn things around for good in the Niger Delta region. We need the support of everyone in this quest to fast track the development of the region.”