The House of Representatives has screened the presidential nominees to the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The nominees appeared before the House ad-hoc committee mandated to conduct the screening on Thursday.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu charged the nominees upon their anticipated confirmation, to justify the confidence reposed in them by President President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying, “Now, more than ever before, the NDDC needs visionary leaders with integrity to drive the discharge of the commission’s mandate, to translate to tangible impact on the lives of the people and communities in the Niger Delta.”
The screening exercise featured presentations by Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Chairman and Managing Director/CEO nominees respectively, who shared details of their respective career trajectories, and vision for the commission.
Subsequently, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ali Isa, moved the motion for the nominees to take a bow in deference to the fact that the Senate had similarly screened and confirmed the nominees, and also in consideration of the fact that some of the nominees are former parliamentarians. The motion was seconded by Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims, and unanimously carried by the committee.
Consequent to the screening exercise, the committee is expected to submit its report and recommendations during plenary. Upon confirmation by the House, the National Assembly is expected to immediately transmit its resolution to the Presidency, having effectively fulfilled Section 2 (2) (a) of the NDDC Act, which prescribes that the nominees must be screened and confirmed by the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives.
The nominees screened included: Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman (Delta); Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director/CEO (Bayelsa); Mr. Boma Iyaye, ED, Finance & Admin (Rivers); Mr. Victor Antai, ED, Projects (Akwa Ibom); Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, ED, Corporate Services (Ondo); Senator Dimaro Denyanbofa (Bayelsa); Mr. Abasi Ndikan Nkono (Akwa Ibom); Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya (Delta); Chief Tony Okocha (Rivers); and Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Edo).
Others are Mr. Kyrian Uchegbu State (Imo); Hon. Otitio Atikase (Ondo); Chief Dimgba Eruba (Abia); Rt. Hon Orok Otu Duke (Cross River); Hon. Nick Wende (North Central); Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak (North East); and Senator Dr. Ibrahim Gobir (North West).
According to the House leader, Hon. Prof. Julius Inhovbere, when confirmed and inaugurated, the nominees will be charged with the responsibility to chart a new course for the critical interventionist agency, and be just and fair to all the communities. He charged the nominees when confirmed to be guided by the fear of God and respect for the constitution in the discharge of their duties, saying that “Nigerians expect to be proud of your achievements. You all owe the duty to Nigerians to perform.” Justice for all is justice for one, and justice for one is justice for all.”, he said.
