From Joe Effiong, Uyo
A socio-cultural organization, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality (MOSIEND) and other Civil Society Organisations and Community Based Organisations, have commended President Bola Tinubu for retaining Chief Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director, and other executive directors of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) even as the board of the commission was recently dissolved.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of MOSIED, CSOs and CBOs, in Uyo on Sunday on the matter \Sunday, Mr Afoegba Goodyear, said the dissolution of the board of federal parastatals and agencies, which takes place according to tenure limits, change or transition to a new government in power, is not done as a punitive measure.
“For the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), it was a matter of mixed reactions, when the commission was named among parastatals and agencies dissolved by the Federal Government.
“We are relieved to know that the managing director, the Executive Directors Projects and the executive director finance and administration were retained to manage the commission pending the constitution of a new board.
“As stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, we recognise the sacrifices and efforts expended by sons and daughters of the region before the last board was constituted. At this time of our lives, the peace and progress of the region matter more to us than the infighting for positions and appointments. We say enough of the fight over the NDDC.
“We appreciate the news of the retention of the managing director and the other aforementioned executive directors. We are gladdened by this kind gesture of the President.”
They said the dissolved NDDC board started off on a good note and thus appealed to the president not only to consider members of the dissolved board for reappointment but also to allow them to operate.
“We find very distasteful naysayers who are condemning the good intentions of Mr President in retaining the Management Committee.”
Quoting copious sections of the laws such as S,5 (1) (b) of the 1999 constitution which gives the president extended over the NDDC as a creation of the Act of the national assembly, powers, the group said; “Under Section 2(3), The Managing Director, the Executive Directors and the Management Committee of the Commission are full-time Members while in Office. The necessary implication of Section 2(3) is that upon assumption of office, The Managing Director and the Management Committee, unlike the Non-Executive Directors that make up the Board of the Commission are an integral part of the commission.”
“It is also correct to point out that where situations arise, the Managing Director can be retained to oversee the commission pending reconstitution of the Board.
“Under Section 10, the Management Committee is separated from the Board and made answerable to the general control of the Board. It is then wrong to say that the Managing Director’s fate, including or excluding Executive Directors, is tied to the General Board who are non-executive Directors, in the event of dissolution.
“It is therefore out of place to argue against the retention of the Managing Director because Section 2 (1)(g) of NDDC Act mentioned that office.”
“We hereby use this opportunity to appeal to persons who have made it their determination to pull down the Chief Samuel Ogbuku-led administration, to rethink and turn a new leaf. The people of the Niger Delta are solidly behind him and will never succumb to blackmails, intimidations and inveigh against his person.”