Wike Charges NDDC On Dev

The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, has charged authorities of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to focus on the development of the region and refrain from getting involved in partisan politics. Wike, who gave the charge last Friday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said it would be counter productive if the commission continues to operate like a political party.
The governor regretted that development in the Niger Delta region had been stunted because of the politicisation of NDDC activities, adding that such involvements in politics has made it difficult for the commission to focus on its core mandate.
He exphasised that NDDC is not a state and should therefore subject itself to the laws of the states where it operates.
He said: “NDDC cannot wake up and start projects without seeking the co-operation of the host states.
“NDDC is not a political party. For now, we are talking about governance and all efforts must be geared towards the betterment of the people”.
Meanwhile the Governing Board of the Commission, had affirmed its commitment to making NDDC’s systems and processes more transparent for the sustainable development of NDDC states.
This is contained in a 21-point focus set out at the board’s inaugural meeting Thursday in Port Harcourt as strategic to regional development. NDDC’s board chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), in a statement issued on Friday by the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Chijoike Amu-Nnadi, said that it was imperative to create opportunities for public participation to engender confidence in the activities of the commission by all stakeholders in the region.
Other measures, he said included curtailing the indiscriminate award of contracts noting that the board’s approval must be obtained for all procurement of projects and programmes.

Chris Oluoh