- Report of the Committee on Niger Delta
Confirmation of the Nominations of the following persons for Appointment as Chairman and Members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by Senate Leader, Senator Amos Bulus
Senator Amos Bulus moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Niger Delta on the confirmation of the Nominations of the following persons for Appointment as Chairman and Members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)
i. Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie – Chairman – Delta State – South-South
ii. Dimgba Erugba – State Representative – Abia State – South-East
iii. Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills – State Representative – Akwa-Ibom State –South-South
iv. Elder Sen. Dimaro Denyanbofa – State Representative – Bayelsa State – South-South
v. Hon. Orok Duke – State Representative – Cross River State – South-South
vi. Dr. Pius Egberanwen Odudu – State Representative – Edo State – South-South
vii. Engr. Anthony Okanne – State Representative – Imo State – South-East
viii. Hon. Gbenga Edema – State Representative – Ondo State – South-We
x. Alh. Mohammed Kabir Abubakar – Zonal Representative – Nasarawa State – North Central
xi. Alh. Sule-Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami – Zonal Representative – Kebbi State – North-West
xii. Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, OON – Zonal Represenative – Adamawa State – North-East
xiii. Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku – Managing Director for a term of two years, to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor in office – Bayelsa State – South-South
xv. Charles B. Ogunmola – Executive Director (Projects) – Ondo State – South-West
Senator Akon Eyakenyi seconded.
Senator Amos Bulus laid and presented the report.
Senator Amos Bulus, in his presentation, said that during the screening exercise, two of the nominees – Dr. Pius Egberanwen
Odudu and Engr. Anthony Okanne were absent and there was no information explaining their absence from Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matter.
“We have all listened to the report just laid by the Chairman and the lead agreement for its adoption. I think this is a fitting moment to commend the President. Finally, we have Mr. President’s nominations to properly constitute the Board and Management of the NDDC as required by the Act. Those who would constitute this Agency should be people who are from the area and who feels the pains. We should have a Clause in our resolution calling on the now President and future Presidents who will have to implement the Act to comply with the nominations who should come from oil producing areas.”– Senator Seriake Dickson
“I rise to support that the Senate go through the various names, approved and confirmed them as given to us by the Committee. Whatever will form a bottleneck to these nominations, I think we should leave it. I agree with my brother that we should follow the Law. In doing the right thing with the law, we have to define which is the oil producing community.” – Senator George Sekibo
This report would have been very beautiful if the Chairman had referred to our decision in Ondo State that the three Senators declined to support the nomination. The whole world is watching us. The Chairman should have submitted a meaningful report that would have portrayed what happened. I believe the Chairman did not do justice to this report and it is very unfortunate.” – Senator Nicholas Tofowomo
Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole
Senate reverted to Plenary to report progress.
The Nomination of Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie from Delta State representing South-South was CONFIRMED as Chairman of the NDDC
The nomination of Dimgba Erugba from Abia State representing South-East was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills from Akwa-Ibom State representing South-South was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Hon. Orok Duke from Cross River State representing South-South was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Hon. Gbenga Edema from Ondo State representing South-West was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Elekwachi Dinkpa from Rivers State representing South-South was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Alh. Mohammed Kabir Abubakar from Nasarawa State representing North Central was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Alh. Sule-Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami from Kebbi State representing North-West was CONFIRMED as member in the NDDC.
The Nomination Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku from Bayelsa State representing South South was CONFIRMED as a Managing Director for two years to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor in office – Bayelsa State – South-South
The Nomination of Major General Charles Airhiavbere from Edo State representing South South was CONFIRMED as Executive Director (Finance) in the NDDC.
The Nomination of Charles B. Ogunmola from Ondo State representing South West was CONFIRMED as Executive Director (Projects) in the NDDC.
Senate stood down the nominations of Dr. Pius Egberanwen Odudu from Edo State, and Engr. Anthony Okanne from Imo State because they didn’t appear for Screening.
“At last, we have the NDDC getting proper management and more and I believe that time is of essence here. These confirmed Chairman and members should hit the ground running. So much time has been lost. I believe that from now until when their tenure will expire, they have a lot of work to do. Let’s see NDDC as a development institute rather than a cash cow. To those that will be taking over the mantle of leadership, I also want the Executive arm of government to send the the copies of the forensic audit of the NDDC to both members of the National Assembly.”
– Senate President
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
