In a significant development, the House of Representatives has successfully screened and confirmed the presidential designates for the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The designates, who had appeared before the House’s ad-hoc committee, received the green light during the screening process. The move comes in response to a letter from President Bola Tinubu, seeking the House’s ratification of the NDDC chairman and its governing board, in compliance with Section 2(2) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (Establishment etc.) Act.
As reported by Findwhosabi on August 29, President Tinubu had endorsed Mr. Chiedu Ebie for the position of NDDC board chairman and 16 other individuals for various roles on the commission’s board.
During the screening, the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, charged the designates with the responsibility to justify the confidence placed in them by President Bola Tinubu. She emphasized the need for visionary leaders with integrity to drive the commission’s mandate and make a tangible impact on the lives of people and communities in the Niger Delta region.
The screening process involved presentations by Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Chairman and Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer designates, respectively. They shared their career trajectories and outlined their vision for the commission.
Following the presentations, Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Ali Isa, moved a motion for the designates to take a bow as the Senate had also screened and confirmed them. This motion was seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, and unanimously approved by the committee.
With the ad-hoc committee’s resolution to confirm all the designates, the National Assembly is set to transmit its decision to the Presidency, effectively fulfilling Section 2(2)(a) of the NDDC Act, which mandates the nominees to be screened and confirmed by the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives.
The confirmed designates are as follows:
- Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman (Delta State)
- Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (Bayelsa)
- Mr. Boma lyaye, Executive Director, Finance and Admin (Rivers)
- Mr. Victor Antai, Executive Director Projects (Akwa-Ibom)
- Otito Atikase, Executive Director, Corporate Services (Ondo)
- Dimaro Denyanbofa, State Representative (Bayelsa)
- Mr. Abasi Nkono, State Representative (Akwa-Ibom)
- Monday Igbuya, State Representative (Delta)
- Tony Okocha, State Representative (Rivers)
- Patrick Aisowieren, State Representative (Edo)
- Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu, State Representative (Imo)
- Victor Akinjo, State Representative (Ondo)
- Dimgba Eruba, State Representative (Abia)
- Orok Otu Duke, State Representative (Cross River)
- Nick Wende, Zonal Representative (North Central)
- Namdas Abdulrazak, Zonal Representative (North East)
- Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, Zonal Representative (North West)
House leader, Prof. Julius Inhovbere, charged the designates with the crucial responsibility of charting a new course for the NDDC and ensuring fairness to all communities. He stressed the importance of being guided by the fear of God and respect for the constitution in the discharge of their duties, emphasizing that Nigerians expect to be proud of their achievements.