President Goodluck Jonathan has placed embargo on award of new contracts in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) until all ongoing projects, which he said are too many, are completed.
He has also warned that he would no longer have a passing interest in the activities of the NDDC, adding, henceforth both the board and management will be clinically watched to ensure the people of the region as well as Nigerians at large enjoy the benefit of resources pumped into the commission.
He also charged the new board to desist from incessant quarrels that bedeviled the last board over funds that belongs to the people, forcing him to dissolve it, urging them to make use of appropriate channels of authority to report any official of the NDDC that acts contrary to expectations rather than engage in public fights and quarrels.
President Jonathan regretted that despite the enormous funds pumped into the commission, nothing on ground corresponded with the funds released thereby denying the people the benefits that is meant for them from the activities of the commission.
The President stated this on Monday at the inauguration of the NDDC board chaired by Senator BasseyEwa-Henshaw, held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
He admitted that there were enormous challenges facing the board but charged them to be conscious of the fact that the people were now more inquisitive and more open to the activities of the commission as well as the freedom of information laws, adding that it was the responsibility of the commission to do things differently henceforth.
He said: “For the incoming board, you have a lot of challenges. But I just have to admonished you very clearly that there are so many issues about the NDDC. The Niger Delta people feel that the NDDC is not really doing what it is suppose to do over the period. There are so many ongoing projects. A body like NDDC should not just go into a voyage of contracts procurement but ongoing projects must be completed for people to benefit before new ones are awarded. There are just too many ongoing projects and we believe that you don’t even have enough manpower to manage the ongoing projects. You have a lot of responsibility and for those of you from the Niger Delta who are even there, you know that the history of intervening agencies is legion. From three per cent to one intervention or the other, if you aggregate the total amount of money the Federal Government has spent on this agency; it is enormous and I don’t believe that we have something on ground to show very clearly.
“The former board at a time had to be dissolved because instead of the board to work with the management to make sure that people from the area benefit from the NDDC they were busy quarreling over money. The money does not belong to the board members or the staff; the money belongs to the people, yet they were quarreling. If the money that belongs to the people is being spent the way it should there will be no reason why people should quarrel. There are guidelines in terms of procurement and management of funds and if the MD or ED is doing things contrary to expectations there are lines of reporting and there are lines of authority I will expect you to follow. I don’t expect you to go and start quarreling. I expect you to be committed both the board and the management so as to ensure that the people from the area benefit from the resources.”
In his response, Ewa-Henshaw said members of the board were fully aware of the criticisms that have trailed the performance of the commission for a number of years, assuring that they will do their level best to change its image before the Nigerian people.
He stated: “By adopting a fresh approach and forging a new direction and focus we hope to create a new more positive image for the commission.
“We believe that the NDDC can become the veritable vehicle it is intended to be for the uplift of the people of the Niger Delta, a vehicle by which their situation can be transformed from one of deprivation to one of prosperity and hope. You have already charted the course through your transformation agenda for the Nigerian nation. We will follow your footsteps and key into that agenda for the people of Niger Delta.
“To do this we will focus on major infrastructural developments that will open up and integrate the sub-region. Our projects and programmes will target wealth creation and employment generation, especially for the youths of the area. And we will work assiduously to infuse good governance, transparency and efficiency into all facets of the commission’s operation.”
Ewa-Henshaw also gave assurance that the board “will not take our responsibility lightly. We know how important and serious it is. Therefore, I believe I speak the minds of all my colleagues when I pledge our unalloyed loyalty to your administration and our commitment to ensure that we deliver on the trust you have so graciously reposed on us, the mandate of the NDDC and the hopes and aspirations of the Niger Delta people. Please indulge us by giving us your ears when we come to seek your support and guidance during challenges, which we know will come.”
Speaking to newsmen later on President Jonathan’s embargo on contracts, Ewa-Henshaw said the board will change direction to ensure it’s impact is more felt by the people of the region and Nigeria in general.
He said: “I think for us we are going to change direction and focus as I said. There is no reason NDDC cannot get involved in major infrastructural development. The 2013 budget is about N300 billion. The first thing we are going to do is to put up a small thing to do a thorough analysis of existing projects to let us know where and what has been paid, percentage completion, expected completion period and then we can do analysis and agree on which ones that we need to follow.”
