Yenagoa—A developmental activist, Dr. Inenyo Esinte has urged the Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to expedite action on developmental projects, schemes and programs that will benefit Bayelsa state and the Niger Delta region.
Earlier today, a letter from the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, had directed the NDDC helmsman to take charge of the affairs of the commission.
The letter reads in part:
“Following the termination of the Boards of Federal Government Parastatals by the President on June 19, 2023, with the exception of Councils and Commissions listed in the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 152 (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I write to inform you of this directive.
“Consequently, you are to oversee the affairs of the NDDC until a new Board is constituted by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“All Official correspondences requiring the attention of the President should be routed through the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, who will further liaise with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for necessary action.
“Furthermore, you are required to provide weekly reports on your financial and procurement activities for onward transmission to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”
In a statement released to Mangrovepen.ng, Esinte described as misinforming, the widely circulated reports about the termination of the appointment of the heads of both NDDC and NCDMB.
According to him, “For me, the recent presidential directives for the dissolution of boards of MDAs should be a wake-up call and eye opener for the MD NDDC and the ES NCDMB to know that their stay in office is time bound and regulated by the powers of the President who can hire and fire when and how it pleases him irrespective of party membership.
“I enjoin the CEOs of NDDC and NCDMB to expedite action on developmental projects, schemes and programs that will be of great benefit to Bayelsa state and the Niger Delta region at large.
“Charity begins at home and their stay in office will only be remembered and adjudged as beneficial or nonbeneficial to Bayelsa state and the entire Ijaw nation through the magnitude, scope and spread of human capital development and infrastructural projects they attract to the state and region.
The medical doctor urged the duo to make the best out of the opportunity they have and bring the needed “goodies berthed on our shores.”