The House of Representatives on Wednesday screened the 17 nominees to the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The House through the NDDC screening ad-hoc committee asked board chairman, Chiedu Ebie; Managing Director/CEO of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and other members to ‘take a bow and go’.
Africangazette.net reports that the lower chamber of the National Assembly quarreled over the screening of the nominees by the Senate without adequate consultation with them as provided by the NDDC Act.
Consequently, President Bola Tinubu wrote the House requesting the confirmation of the nominees for the appointment after which an ad-hoc committee was set up.
The Committee said the board members were enjoying the privilege always extended to former members of the National Assembly appointed into executive positions who are always asked to “take a bow and go.”
The motion to allow the nominees to take a bow and go was moved by the Minority Whip Hon. Ali Isa, who commended the President for appointing some former members of the National Assembly to serve in the NDDC board.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake, said the screening process for confirmation was in fulfilment of the provisions of Section 2 (2)(a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
Addressing the lawmakers, the NDDC board chairman nominee, Ebie said his cumulative experience in the public and private sector have adequately prepared him for the job.
“I assure you that as a chairman of the board if confirmed, I want to assure you of team work. We would work as a team.
“We would ensure we have a very harmoniously working relationship and also ensure that people-oriented projects and projects that are needs based would be executed by the commission,” he said.
On his part, the Managing Director nominee, Ogbuku expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for reappointing him and promised that the new team would work hard to fulfil its mandate.
“I thank the President for reappointing me and giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria and the Niger Delta. I also thank him for handing me a team that is filled with men of character and high personality that are willing and ready to deliver for the people of the Niger Delta,” he said.
Earlier, the House Majority Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere expressed confidence in the pedigree of the members of the new board and urged them to do their best to deliver the mandate of NDDC.
“Nigerians are watching. They expect the best of you. They expect to become very proud of your achievements in a very short time. So the ball will go back to your court after this grilling. I will make recommendations to the house. And as the chairman has said, each of you owe this country a duty to deliver and we want to plead with you also on behalf of the Speaker and the management of the House, that you recognize that justice for one is justice for all and justice for all is justice for one.
“Please do your very best to deliver, and we’ll have no cost to have you come back here to appear before the Chairman and the committee. But we’ll be watching. Once again, I congratulate you all for being nominated,” he stated.
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