House Of Reps Screens NDDC Board

The House of Representatives has screened the presidential nominees to the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This was made known in a statement jointly signed by the Chairperson, House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Akin Rotimi, Jr, on Thursday.

According to the statement, the designates appeared before the House ad-hoc committee mandated to conduct the screening on Thursday.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Ibori-Suenu charged the designates to justify the confidence reposed in them by H.E. President President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Now, more than ever before, the NDDC needs visionary leaders with integrity to drive the discharge of the commission’s mandate, to translate to tangible impact on the lives of the people and communities in the Niger Delta,” she said

The screening exercise featured presentations by Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Chairman and Managing Director/CEO designates respectively, who shared details of their respective career trajectories, and vision for the commission.

Subsequently, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ali Isa, moved the motion for the nominees to take a bow in deference to the fact that the Senate had similarly screened and confirmed the nominees, and also in consideration of the fact that some of the nominees are former parliamentarians.

The motion was seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, and unanimously carried by the committee.

Consequent to the screening exercise, the committee is expected to submit it’s report and recommendations during plenary.

Upon confirmation by the House, the National Assembly is expected to immediately transmit its resolution to the Presidency, haven effectively fulfilled Section 2 (2) (a) of the NDDC Act, which prescribes that the nominees must be screened and confirmed by the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives.

The designates confirmed include: Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman (Delta); Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director/CEO (Bayelsa); Mr. Boma Iyaye, ED, Finance & Admin (Rivers); Mr. Victor Antai, ED, Projects (Akwa Ibom); Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, ED, Corporate Services (Ondo); Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa (Bayelsa); Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono (Akwa Ibom); Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya (Delta); Chief Tony Okocha (Rivers); and Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Edo).

Others are Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu (Imo); Hon. Otitio Atikase (Ondo); Chief Dimgba Eruba (Abia); Rt. Hon Orok Otu Duke (Cross River); Hon. Nick Wende (North Central); Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak (North East); and Senator Dr. Ibrahim Gobir (North West).

According to the House leader, Hon. Prof. Julius Inhovbere, the designates are charged with the responsibility to chart a new course for the very critical interventionist agency, and be just and fair to all the communities.

He further charged the designates to be guided by the fear of God and respect for the constitution in the discharge of their duties.

“Nigerians expect to be proud of your achievements. You all owe the duty to Nigerians to perform.” Justice for all is justice for one, and justice for one is justice for all.”, he said.