Reps faults FG appointment of NDDC board

….Says it violates Act
The House of Representatives on Wednesday accused the Buhari Administration of violating the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act by extending the tenure of the current board of the commission.

It charged the government to adhere strictly to the provisions of the NDDC Act with respect to the appointment and reappointment of members of the board in other not to cause disaffection among the oil producing states that make up the commission.

The call follows the adoption of a motion on the violation of the NDDC Act and its attendant consequences sponsored by Rep. Henry Daniel Ofongo representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State.

Moving the motion, Rep. Ofongo recalled that the tenure of the former board was cut short in 2015 following its dissolution, through a letter from the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

He disclosed that the current board members were issued letters of appointment before being inaugurated by the present administration requiring them to serve out the tenure of the dissolved board.

Rep. Ofongo added that the recent statement by the permanent secretary in the office of the SGF regarding the letters of appointments issued to the board members by the former acting SGF, Dr. Habiba Lawal,

which purported to have granted the board members a fresh tenure of four years, rather than them serving out the unexpired tenure of the dissolved board was unlawful and violated the NDDC Act.

He stated that the pronouncement was in clear violation of Section 5(2) of the NDDC Act, 2000, adding that there is a nexus between the violation of the Act and youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

“The pronouncement was in clear violation of Section 5 (2) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act, 2000, which provides that where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board, it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor.

“So however, that the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by the president, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, in consultation with the House of Representatives.

“We are aware that there is a nexus between the violation of the NDDC Act and youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region which has such grave consequences of impacting adversely on oil production and consequently, the nation’s revenues from the resource,” the lawmaker said.

He therefore prayed the House to invoke the provision of Section 88 (1) (b) (i) of the 1999 Constitution which empowers the National Assembly by resolution, to investigate the execution or administration of laws enacted by the National Assembly.

The House in its resolution mandated its committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to investigate the matter with a view to ensuring compliance with the Act and report back within two weeks.

Henry Omunu, Abuja