NDDC to revive advisory, monitoring committees

NAN-H-93

Committee

By Desmond Ejibas

Port Harcourt, Feb. 2, 2017 (NAN) The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has said it will revive its advisory and monitoring committees to fast track development in the region.

The NDDC Chairman, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, said this in a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Ndoma-Egbap, who made this known at the commission’s three-day retreat titled: “Collaboration for Sustainable Development”, said that governors from the nine NDDC states would be members of the advisory committee.

he also said that President Muhammadu Buhari would nominate two other persons to join the committee.

“The advisory committee is charged with the responsibility of advising the Board and monitoring the activities of the commission.

“It will ensure harmonisation of projects and programmes with member states and will also make NDDC a partner to the states rather than the competitor, it now appears to be.

“The monitoring committee consisting of such number of persons from the public or civil service as President Buhari may deem fit, will monitor management of fund and implementation of projects.

“The committee will have access to the books of account and other records of the commission at all times and will submit periodic reports to Mr President,” he said.

Ndoma-Egba said the committees were measures put in place to reinforce transparency and accountability aimed to strengthen the governance framework for improved performance.

He said that NDDC was weak which was partly responsible for failure of over 9,000 projects in the region.

The chairman said the failed projects came without consequences and sanctions to those responsible for its failure.

“The budget process is also largely responsible for abandoned projects because its approach to project has been ad hoc, arbitrary and self-serving with very little end-user content.

“Many projects appear strange to beneficiary communities as the projects are imposed on the communities and thus creates a crisis of ownership.

“We have no option but to change things because it is in the best interest of the commission that all its organs are active,” he said.

Ndoma-Egba listed agriculture, health, education, transportation, ICT, sports, manufacturing and the creative industry as the new thrust of the NDDC. (NAN)

DES/OFN

Edited by Felux Nwadioha