Business
NDBDA Crisis: MD Steps Aside, As FG Sets Up Committee …NLC Calls For Truce
Following the ongoing stand-off between the management of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA) and its workers, the Federal Government has ordered investigation into the crisis.
The Federal Government has also directed the NDBDA Managing Director, Engr. Tonye David-West and his team to step aside with immediate effect.
The order came yesterday after a four-day face-off between workers and management of the Authority.
The Tide reliably learnt that the Federal Government has agreed to set up a committee to investigate all the allegations against the NDBDA management.
Our correspondents report that the protesting workers who had brought the operations at the NDBDA to a standstill since Monday, were accusing the management of the Authority of embezzling N1.5 billion meant for the establishment of Songhai farms across the three River Basin Development Authorities in the Niger Delta.
The Tide, however, gathered that the crisis came to a head when the David-West led management attempted to work its way back to the company after the expiration of the three year tenure of its executive directors.
Although the MD’s four year tenure ends next year, workers claimed that his continued stay in the company would cause several damages and low production due to his highhandedness.
According to them, the management had refused to pay what they called ‘Kilometer and Disengagement allowances’ to workers who had retired since two years ago, as contained in the Federal Government of Nigeria Public Service Rules, Chapter 13, Numbers 130103, 130104 of 2008 and 2009.
They also alleged that the David-West administration had neglected workers welfare in the last three years.
Engr David-West has, however, denied the allegations, saying all the monies released for the Songhai farm project were judiciously utilised.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has waded into the face-off, appealing to the protesting workers to shield their swords.
Vice chairman, NLC, and chairman of the Joint Public Negotiation Council, Rivers State, Emecheta Chukwu, who addressed newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting with aggrieved workers and management of NDBDA, appealed for truce between the two warring factions.
According to him,’’ we want to use all the instruments of the law with a view to making sure that what is worth doing is worth doing well. I have made an appeal to the protesting workers of the NDBDA and the executive to dismantle every road block they have mounted on the office while we make the necessary documentation with a view to engaging the management and whoever that is responsible’’.
On some of the issues raised by the workers especially the demand that the Managing Director, Tonye David-West be removed, Chukwu said, it was not within the purview of industrial unions.
Chukwu said,’’ retention of the Managing Director has nothing to do with us as a union, it’s always from the Presidency; and I know, having gotten the brief from my members he’s still having one year disengage, but they are saying they’ re not satisfied with his operations’’.
He explained that, there were ordinances of government responsible for addressing matters of misappropriation of public funds, including the EFCC and ICPC and in this case, the supervising Ministry, the Ministry of Water Resources.
Tonye Nria-Dappa & King Onunwor
“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.
The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.
Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.
According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.
The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.
The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.
“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.
“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.
“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.
Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.
The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.
He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.
The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.
“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”
According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.
Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.