NDDC BOARD AND MANAGEMENT RETREAT ENDS, AS MEMBERS RESOLVE TO STICK TO ESTABLISHING LAWS
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Chairman of the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie says henceforth, the laws establishing NDDC will apply in all activities in the commission.
Mrs. Onochie who made this known while giving her closing remarks at the end of NDDC Board and Management Retreat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, maintained that there is need to effect a change in the affairs of the interventionist agency.
The Chairman appreciated the participants and organizers for a successful retreat.
“We need everyone to start doing things differently, we need us to start looking at the laws that guide the creation of NDDC and begin to apply the laws in all we do.”
“If you are a cleaner, you clean well, if you are a director, you direct well.“
Similarly, the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who acknowledged that the retreat exposed the board members to diverse tenets regarding the operations of the commission, told the people that entrepreneurial programmes would be initiated to empower the youths.
“We really want to encourage young entrepreneurs, because if you look at Niger Delta, it is as if everything is about militancy, but we have young entrepreneurs that are good in IT, agriculture and different fields”.
“So, we really want to encourage them and showcase them to the world.”
“In terms of projects we are looking at regional projects that will make a big difference in the region.”
On his part the representative of Rivers State on the Governing Board of NDDC, Mr. Chukwudi Dimkpa who gave assurance of his determination to ensure equity, stated that the retreat provided a platform for the board and management to interact and focus on a common goal.
“What I want to take away from here is the processes especially the one of public procurement and then, the relationship between the governing Board and the Management.”
“So, going back to Rivers State is clear that NDDC is going to make a difference this time around.”
“I’m taking home from this retreat, a renewed vigor to assist getting NDDC to touch the lives of the Niger Deltans.”
In the same vein, the representative of Cross River State in the Board, Mr. Orok Duke stressed the need to devolve powers to various state offices of the Niger Delta Development Commission to ease the burden at the headquarters.
High point of the retreat was presentation of certificates to participants.
key speakers at the retreat included, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Umana, Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Dasuki Arabi, Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Mamman Ahmadu among others.
