NDDC trains staff on accountability, professionalism, service delivery

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has concluded a three-day capacity-building programme for its officers as part of efforts to strengthen professionalism, accountability, organisational effectiveness and excellence in public service delivery.

The programme, held in Lagos from Wednesday, to Friday, was themed, “Beyond Service Delivery: Institutional Accountability, Stakeholder Satisfaction and Sustainable Development Outcomes in NDDC.”

It provided participants with an opportunity to reflect on the quality of the commission’s institutional processes, examine its administrative and operational practices, and identify practical ways of strengthening its capacity to deliver on its mandate.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, NDDC, Ifedayo Abegunde, urged officers of the commission to uphold the principles of transparency, integrity, accountability, efficiency and value for money in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Abegunde, who was represented by the Director, Corporate Governance and Due Process, Anele Nzelaw, said the effectiveness of the commission should not be measured solely by the number of projects executed, resources deployed or programmes initiated.

“It must also be measured by the quality of our governance, the efficiency of our internal processes, the integrity of our operations, the satisfaction of our stakeholders and, ultimately, the development outcomes we deliver to the people,” he said. He reminded the participants that excellence in public service went beyond performing assigned duties, stressing that responsibilities must be discharged responsibly, efficiently and professionally in ways that create lasting value for the people.

In his presentation, the keynote speaker, Professor Sylvester Odion Akhaine, emphasised the importance of institutional accountability in ensuring that organisations fulfilled their mandates and achieved their objectives.

He said accountability required ownership of processes and regular assessment of actions taken, adding that institutions must be willing to acknowledge mistakes, accept responsibility and learn from their experiences.

“This learning process enables the organisation to improve and advance its objectives,” he said.

Akhaine noted that institutional capacity was particularly important in assessing the performance of established conventions and frameworks.