Lawmaker Urges Urgent Reform Of NDDC … Seeks Independent Forensic Probe

Lawmaker representing Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Doctor Farah Dagogo, has called for urgent reform of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC).
Speaking in a chat with newsmen recently over developments in the NDDC, Hon. Farah said he was disappointed that the commission had betrayed the sacrifice made by agitators which led to the setting up of the body in year, 2000.
He also blamed elites in the region and managers of the commission for the failure of NDDC to achieve it’s core mandate.
Farah described managers of the commission over the years as puppets who compromised the needs and aspirations of the region with selfish Abuja politicians.
“Instead of the NDDC actually intervening positively in the lives of the people as expected, Niger Delta people are being shortchanged by the elites that have been managing  the commission,” he lamented.
The federal lawmaker added that, “ the situation in the commission is that of man’s inhumanity against fellow man…And it’s more painful that NDDC funds were allegedly used to fund elections.”
Instead of scrapping the commission, Farah recommended for a reform in the agency such that it’s managers would be experts and non politicians with vision to transform it for efficiency.
”Rejig the NDDC and ensure it religiously  adheres to the core mandate for setting it up, especially in the areas of meaningful intervention,” he stated.
In addition, he sought for an independent forensic audit different from the ongoing one by the National Assembly.
He said such audit should be made up of experts capable of digging deep to recover stolen funds and monies carted away by corrupt contractors.