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NDDC’s Revival: Corporate Hqr As Metaphor

Published

6 years ago

September 13, 2019

If things work as planned, the Eastern Bye-Pass in Port Harcourt with the envisaged completion of construction work on the long abandoned corporate headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which is located along the road will host the commission’s operational base. Following a marching order handed down to the new management by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, in respect of the shame of the abandonment of the13 storey-edifice, on which work was abandoned almost two decades ago, all actors in the exercise are recommitting themselves to see to its actualisation. The Minister had in a meeting with the management in his office in Abuja lamented over the shameful state of the structure, which successive managements had abandoned and resorted to renting the present corporate headquarters
In response to his charge, the relevant actors have all made public statements in respect of completing all work on the project within a new schedule. For instance, the Acting Managing Director even offered to actually move her office to the uncompleted building and supervise its completion directly, as a sign of total commitment to the pledge. Likewise, the various contractors on the project have also made public pledges on their commitment to follow through with the completion of the project on schedule. All that seems left now is to see them convert their pledges to articles of faith through delivering of the project on schedule – ostensibly next year 2020.
However, with the NDDC, many persons who had dealings with the interventionist agency readily aver that there could always be a difference between its schedule on delivery of projects and the actualisation of same. Its officials blame this situation on the haphazard manner in which its finances are mustered including the ever worrisome instances of under remittance of monies due it by designated contributors to its purse. These debtors are in the main the Federal Government as well as oil and gas companies, who are statute bound to contribute to the commission’s purse. But routinely fail to do so. In that vein, therefore, the pledges over the completion of the NDDC corporate headquarters may be determined more by the actual availability of funds – a situation that throws the liability ball back to the Minister, Godswill Akpabio. It is for good measure that he also acknowledged the debts of over N2 trillion owed the commission during his meeting with them.
However, beyond the issue of finance, the more profound feature of NDDC operations which many believe is the primary causative factor determining its chronic infidelity with project delivery is the complement of its in-house management expedients. Historically, even if the commission may not have received its full tranche of funds at any particular time, what it did with the delivered portion leaves much to be desired. As far as the public image of the commission is concerned, it is yet to earn a pass mark, as it hardly registers the completion of critical infrastructure within budget and time frame, across its intervention area, the Niger Delta region. This makes it more like a sink hole in urgent need for redemption. If the situation was otherwise, it could not have unwisely abandoned its 80% completed corporate headquarters for close to two decades Talk of the NDDC being so altruistic to love others more than itself!
With the marching order from Akpabio, the NDDC needs to predispose itself for a revival of its operational circumstances, pursuant to charting a fresh agenda for executing its statutory mandate. In this context, it may be superfluous to state that its handling of the completion of the corporate headquarters will serve as a metaphor that captures a new corporate, service delivery ethic. While it is not suggested that the commission should deploy all available resources to complete the edifice, the urgency of its completion is defined by several factors.
Firstly, according to the contractors, virtually all the technical accessories for its completion such as lifts and other mechanical equipment, electrical and plumbing fittings are in place, with their final installation only awaiting the ratification of outstanding contractual terms. Secondly, the Minister’s query over the renting of the present office for the whole 19 years of the commission’s existence when it had such an edifice awaiting the executive will to complete it needs to be heeded. It will be interesting if the NDDC can celebrate the twentieth anniversary of its creation which is due next year, in its new corporate headquarters building.
More significant for the circumstances of corporate social responsibility, it will be to the eternal credit of the NDDC to gear its eventual relocation to its then completed corporate headquarters along the Eastern Bye Pass to serve as a catalyst for the takeover of the entire area including the very important adjoining Marine Base. As one of the young engineering students who were privileged to participate in the construction by the Rivers State Ministry of Works of the Eastern Bye Pass during a vacation job stint in the 1970’s, the road has always attracted deep nostalgia for this author. The prospects of the magnificent edifice, now standing as the uncompleted corporate headquarters of the NDDC, becoming completed and fully operational will not only serve to accentuate the turn-around mindset of the commission’s leadership. It will be a personal dream, fulfilled for someone.

Monima Daminabo

Featured

Fubara Reads Riot Act To New SSG, CoS …Warns Against Unauthorized Meetings

Published

6 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff (CoS) to carry out their duties with discipline, loyalty and a firm commitment to the success of the administration and the wellbeing of the people of Rivers State.

The governor warned that any involvement in unauthorised nocturnal meetings or any conduct capable of embarrassing the government will attract immediate dismissal.

Fubara gave the warning yesterday shortly after the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Dagogo S.A. Wokoma and the new Chief of Staff (CoS), Barrister Sunny Ewule, were sworn in at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Port Harcourt.

As part of the ceremony, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi administered the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office on the duo before the governor gave his charge.

Addressing the appointees, Fubara reminded them that their elevation to the new positions was a call to service and not a platform for political grandstanding or the pursuit of personal ambition.

He stressed that their foremost responsibility should be to themselves and to the people of Rivers State, stressing that their conduct must always reflect integrity, restraint and dedication to public good.

Speaking directly to Dr. Wokoma, whom he described as an accomplished academic and mathematician, the governor expressed confidence in his intellectual depth and capacity to deliver on the new assignment.

The office of the Secretary to the State Government, Fubara stressed, demands thoroughness, discipline and a deep sense of responsibility. He charged the SSG to represent the State with honour at all times.

“Your duty includes representing the state government. You need to represent us in a way and manner that will bring honour to us.

“What is important to this administration is to see that the good works that we started and the ones that we met, are concluded in a way that will bring progress and development to our dear state,” he stated.

Turning to the new Chief of Staff, the governor explained that he is expected to ensure smooth administrative coordination, managing official engagements effectively and safeguarding the image of the Government House.

He underscored the sensitive and personal nature of the role and emphasised that the position operates strictly under the authority of the governor.

Fubara stressed that the role does not permit independent political engagements or private strategy meetings without his knowledge and consent.

“Let me sound it here very clearly. Your duty is to make sure that you handle the administrative duties and image making roles perfectly well, liaising with whoever is coming for any official assignment here.

“If you involve yourself in nocturnal meetings and all those things, I will sack you. I’m very serious. What is important to me today is peace, progress and prosperity of this state. I’m not going to compromise anything for it,” he said.

The governor cautioned that involvement of the new appointees in any action capable of bringing the government or his office to disrepute would attract appropriate sanctions.

While congratulating the new appointees, Fubara expressed optimism that they would justify the confidence reposed in them.

He called on all public officials to work together in unity, observing that collective success is stronger and more enduring than individual achievement.

The governor who also addressed the Permanent Secretaries present at the ceremony, directed those of them who have reached retirement age to start preparing their handover notes without delay.

The notice, he said, was not intended to scare anybody but to prepare their minds towards the inevitability of exiting the service one day and to pave way for an orderly transition.

He warned against any attempt to engage in financial misconduct or last-minute irregularities, stressing that he was closely monitoring the system to ensure strict enforcement of accountability rules.

Featured

Fubara Dissolves Rivers Executive Council

Published

3 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has dissolved the State Executive Council.

The governor announced the cabinet dissolution yesterday in a statement titled ‘Government Special Announcement’, signed by his new Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi.

Governor Fubara directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.

He thanked the outgoing members of the State Executive Council for their service and wished them the best in their future endeavours.

The three-paragraph special announcement read, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has dissolved the State Executive Council.

“His Excellency, the Governor, has therefore directed all Commissioners and Special Advisers to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most Senior officers in their Ministries with immediate effect.

“His Excellency further expresses his deepest appreciation to the outgoing members of the Executive Council wishing them the best in their future endeavours.”

Featured

INEC Proposes N873.78bn For 2027 Elections, N171bn For 2026 Operations

Published

3 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday told the National Assembly that it requires N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections, even as it seeks N171bn to fund its operations in the 2026 fiscal year.

INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and the projected cost for the 2027 general elections before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the N873.78bn election budget covers the full conduct of national polls in 2027.

An additional N171bn is needed to support INEC’s routine activities in 2026, including bye-elections and off-season elections, the commission stated.

The INEC boss said the proposed election budget does not include a fresh request from the National Youth Service Corps seeking increased allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc staff during elections.

He explained that, although the details of specific line items were not exhaustively presented, the almost N1tn election budget is structured across five major components.

“N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chief noted that the budget was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”

On the 2026 fiscal year, Amupitan disclosed that the Ministry of Finance provided an envelope of N140bn, stressing, however, that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”

The breakdown includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital expenditure.

He argued that the envelope budgeting system is not suitable for the Commission’s operations, noting that INEC’s activities often require urgent and flexible funding.

Amupitan also identified the lack of a dedicated communications network as a major operational challenge, adding that if the commission develops its own network infrastructure, Nigerians would be in a better position to hold it accountable for any technical glitches.

Speaking at the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) said external agencies should not dictate the budgeting framework for INEC, given the unique and sensitive nature of its mandate.

He advocated that the envelope budgeting model should be set aside.

He urged the National Assembly to work with INEC’s financial proposal to avoid future instances of possible underfunding.

In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives from Edo State, Billy Osawaru, called for INEC’s budget to be placed on first-line charge as provided in the Constitution, with funds released in full and on time to enable the Commission to plan early enough for the 2027 general election.

The Joint Committee approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the Commission’s annual budget.

The committee also said it would consider the NYSC’s request for about N32bn to increase allowances for corps members to N125,000 each when engaged for election duties.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Along, assured that the National Assembly would work closely with the Commission to ensure it receives the necessary support for the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, also pledged legislative support, warning INEC to be careful about promises it might be unable to keep.

He recalled that during the 2023 general election, INEC made strong assurances about uploading results to the INEC Result Viewing portal, creating the impression that results could be monitored in real time.

“iREV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.

The N873.78bn proposed by INEC for next year’s general election is a significant increase from the N313.4bn released to the Commission by the Federal Government for the conduct of the 2023 general election.