New NDDC Board Illegitimate, Reps Deputy Spokesman, Agbese

The House of Representatives has described the new board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as illegitimate.

The house said that the NDDC appointees must undergo screening in the House of Representatives to be recognised by the country’s laws.

The deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Chief Philip Agbese, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

Osun Defender reports that President Bola Tinubu had in August constituted a new board and management for the NDDC with Samuel Ogbuku maintaining his appointment as the commission’s managing director, and Chiedu Ebie named the board’s chairperson.

The Senate gave a nod to the Presidency to inaugurate the appointees as a prelude to resuming their official engagements after their screening.

However, Agbese said the omission of the House of Reps from the screening process negates Section 2a of NDDC Act 2000 which partly states that the board and management of NDDC would “be appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief-of the Armed Forces, subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with the House of Representatives.

“Our nation is bounded by the Constitution. The NDDC board can only be inaugurated after confirmation by the Senate and House of Reps. Anything other than that is totally unlawful.

“I can confidently say that the House was not sufficiently consulted. The proper thing must be done so that the NDDC board and management can be duly inaugurated.

“I am, therefore, using this medium to warn intending appointees of Mr. President or his nominees not to cause any unnecessary friction between the parliament and the Presidency as we are all ready to work together.

“Everyone must understand that the new wave of collaboration between the executive and the 10th National Assembly is symbiotic in the interest of our Constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

“The President and NASS leadership are in sync, and this can only mean progress and stability for our nation. All they need now is the support of Nigerians.

“Again, the Presidency must be watchful of reckless and overzealous appointees who may want to constitute themselves to a clog in the wheel of progress. The President should not hesitate to sack such persons as he did with the withdrawal of some nominations during the Ministerial screening.”

• Kazeem Badmus