BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN, PORT HARCOURT
Staff of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, have been enjoined to set high standard work ethics to be able to deliver on the mandate of the commission as an interventionist agency.
The Acting Managing Director, NDDC, Dr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua gave the advice while delivering a keynote address during Staff Work Ethics Programme with the theme: a Motivated and Disciplined Workforce, the Bedrock For Organisationally Efficiency, at NDDC Headquarters, Port Harcourt Rivers State.
The Staff work Ethics and Organizational behaviour advocacy programme was put up as part of the efforts of the Acting managing Director to reposition the agency to live up to expectations.
While addressing participants at the event, the Acting managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission Dr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua who identified output as key to assessing efficiency at the work place, maintained that there is need for attitudinal change to guarantee results.
He reminded staff of their responsibility to bring to reality the core mandate of the commission which includes, physical infrastructural development of Niger Delta region, Human Capital development, capacity building, Industrialization and employment generations.
The NDDC boss explained that the real enemies of Niger Delta Region include the IOCs and all those who have lost integrity in all their endeavors both in the public and private sectors.
In his presentation, the Chairman National Salaries Wages and Incomes Commission, (NSIWC) Mr. Ekpo Nta who went down Memory Lane to trace the origin of NDDC, told staff that there is need for them to live up to expectations so that the agency will not fizzle away due to non performance.
Mr. Nta while encouraging staff to make NDDC to be a shining example of what the interventionist agency was set up to achieve, enjoined them to make themselves unique in their approach to issues by their work ethics.
He challenged the participants not to allow personal interest override the vision of the organization, rather to add value to themselves and the agency.
The former ICPC chairman advised the commission to recruit people in accordance with their competences, skills and experiences.
Mr. Nta who stressed the importance of ethics to promote good values as an antidote to corruption, stated that where there are no ethical standards, compromise and moral decadence will hold sway.
Similarly, former Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini reminded the staff that working in NDDC is as good as working for themselves, since the workers were employed from the oil producing states, as such, there is need to give their best.
He stated that if the management motivates the work force with appreciable welfare, it will serve as a morale boost to greater achievements.
The former Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner stated that the issues surrounding procurement and award of contract of the commission need to be set right because the information in the public place does not speak good of the reputation of the commission.
While speaking on workplace stress and management, another guest speaker, Dr. Abel Obosi said that stress occurs when there is pressure without commensurate resources or capacity to cope with the challenges.
Dr. Obosi who is a lecturer at the Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan, emphasized the importance of proper management of tasks and responsibilities to act as a bridge to stress.
The guest speaker defined negative stress as that which gives birth to distress and leads to depression, insomnia, drug abuse, negative thoughts and low output.
