Buhari’s reforms and the task before incoming NDDC Board

By Ukpong Ukpong

In a matter of days, the Senate will approve nominees for appointment into the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, bringing to an end months of agitation from opinion leaders, pressure groups and Niger Deltans. What remains to be seen is whether those President Muhammadu Buhari appoints into the board, will sustain his legacy.

The president may have waited till the twilight of his administration to actualize his electoral promise of reforming the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, but believe me, his reforms have brought sanity to the system. Today, an institution that had become synonymous with graft and corruption is gradually adopting accountability and transparency. It’s believed that if sustained, these reforms would reposition the commission to work hence he appointed an experienced administrator of proven record, in the person of Mr. Umana Okon Umana, as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, with a matching order to reposition and retool the NDDC to achieve its core mandate.

In all honesty, it was an act of faith to expect tangible change in NDDC, with just nine months left to handing over (as at the time of appointment). Nevertheless, following strictly a 10-point ministerial action plan, the ministry set out to execute the president’s directives. Firstly, after organizing a two-day management retreat to build a stronger collaboration between MNDA and NDDC that will improve performance and sustain development of the region, the ministry went ahead to address internal administrative issues which hampered productivity and did not hesitate to wield the axe where necessary. Staff of both institutions now know there is the political will to tackle head-on and decisively eliminate impunity and subordination of public interest to private agenda.

Eradicating corruption in NDDC alone is a remarkable achievement. It sets the tone for real development. What remains is the NDDC board, which is mandated to oversee development activities of the commission. It is hoped that Mr. President carefully handpicked selfless persons with impeccable character into the governing board of NDDC otherwise the gains made so far would be lost. The board is so important because they are by law to make rules and regulations for carrying out the functions of the commission. One expects that they will align with the president’s vision and carry on the fight against corruption in order to foster development of the region.

Once sworn in, the board will remain in power for four years with the possibility of reappointment by the next president for another four years, meaning, it would be responsible for entrenching ongoing reforms in the NDDC and steering the commission towards attaining the collective interest of the entire region. They should therefore live above the temptation of individualism and pushing ethnic agenda, and work with the ministry, NDDC management committee as well as the advisory committee (comprising governors of member states) and other critical stakeholders to achieve results.

Also, the board should work towards amending the NDDC Act to secure the tenure for the office of the Managing Director of NDDC similar to what is obtained under the CBN Act. This job security will guarantee long term development of the region.

In the past, development of the region suffered from mutual distrust, infighting and unnecessary competition among member states represented on the board. Going forward, the board should toe the path of reconcilation, consultation, respect for stakeholders input. Above all, the board should adopt and promote the campaign for partnership and collaboration with stakeholders for development as championed by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

Ukpong writes from his farmstead in Akai-Ubium.