There are emerging indications that the expected new board of the NDDC may not come on board this year. Accordingly, the acting managing director, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, may have to continue to hold the fort until after the 2023 general elections.
TNN learnt that part of the reasons for the delay is that some key players in the corridors of power are pushing for a delay in the inauguration of the new board for some reasons, one of which is the need to prevent politicians from using the commission’s funds to run the next election.
Flood Kills 14 Jonathan’s Kinsmen, Destroys 20 Schools In His Village
It was also learnt that some stakeholders in the region are not comfortable with moves to substitute some names of board members with new ones, thus abandoning those who were screened and cleared in 2019 by the senate.
There is yet another school of thought that believes that the acting management may also be working towards gaining some grounds in the commission, after all the NDDC Act recognises the regime of acting managing director.
Already, the acting MD has started taking actions meant to show that a new sheriff has taken charge. All the directors suspected to be loyal to the sacked interim administrator, Effiong Akwa have been transferred.
Akwa is currently being probed over alleged misapplication of money believed to be in the region of N200million. There are signals too, that anti-graft agencies have started looking at the NDDC books from inception of the Akwa era till the day he was booted out.
Flood: Looters Empty Victims’ Homes As Bayelsa Closes IDP Camps
Those believed to be close to him are already out of the way. In the shake-up approved by the new MD include former directors of human resources and that of administration, Mr Silas Anyanwu and Mr Charles Akpan respectively. A director in the finance directorate was also said to have been replaced.
Also in the NDDC, the issue of people who were promoted without due process is said to be considered for a probe. It was also learnt that some of the staff who falsified their birth date to enable them prolong their stay in the employ of the commission may be made to face a panel under the new administration.
Bayelsans Blast Dickson Over Breach Of Protocols With Bell -Ringing Praise Singers
Officials of the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs were not willing to speak on the issue of new NDDC board as at Monday. Spokesperson to the minister, Mr Iboro Otongaran did not respond to questions sent to his Whatsapp line.
Last week, the minister, Umana O. Umana had hinted that the list of new board members had been sent to the senate for consideration. But emerging signals show that nothing may happen for now, pending when all issues would have been resolved.
