By Wole Oye, ABUJA
After weeks of uncertainty, the Presidency has announced that the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, would be reconstituted and inaugurated after completion of the ongoing forensic audit of the commission.
This development suggests that the recently confirmed but yet to be inaugurated Dr Pius Odubu-led NDDC Board may have been jettisoned by the Presidency.
A statement by Presidential Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, Thursday, says the Interim Management Team set up by the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswil Akpabio, would continue to run affairs at the NDDC pending completion of the forensic audit.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be recomposed and inaugurated after the forensic audit of the organization.
“The President has also directed that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC shall be in place till the forensic is completed, and that the supervision of the Commission shall remain under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs,” a terse statement by Mr Adesina reads.
Prompt News Online reports that the Senate had recently confirmed the following as board members:
Dr. Pius Odubu (Edo), Chairman; Bernard Okumagba (Delta), Managing Director; Engr. Otobong Ndem (Akwa-Ibom), Executive Director (Projects); Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director, Finance and Admin; Jones Erue (Delta), and Chief Victor Ekhator (Edo).
Others are: Nwogu N. Nwogu (Abia), Theordore Allison (Bayelsa), Victor Antai (Akwa-Ibom), Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo), Hon. Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo), Aisha Murtala Muhammed (Kano), Shuaibu Ardo Zubairu (Adamawa), and Ambassador Abdullahi Bage (Nasarawa).
