- Inauguration to Wait till Completion of Forensic Audit.
By Hamilton Nwosa (Head Business Desk, The New Diplomat)
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be recomposed and inaugurated after the forensic audit of the organization.
In a statement released by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the President also directed that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC shall be in place till the forensic is completed, and that the supervision of the Commission shall remain under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Recall Buhari ordered a forensic audit of the operations of the NDDC from 2001 to 2019 two months ago, saying what is presently on the ground in the South-south region does not justify the huge resources that have been made available to the Agency.
The Board, which was screened by the Senate on October 30, 2019, has not been inaugurated by the President despite the senate approval of nominees, raising a lot of furore among stakeholders and groups in the Niger Delta region.
The Board has Dr Pius Odubu, from Edo State as Chairman; Chief Bernard Okumagba from Delta State as Managing Director; Mr. Maxwell Oko from Bayelsa State as Executive Director, Finance and Administration; and Engr. Otobong Ndem as Executive Director, Projects among others.
