Expert Commends Senate Over Confirmation Of NDDC Nominees

A Communications Expert, Mr. ThankGod Ntaku has commended the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the confirmation of the three nominees from Abia, Imo and Ondo states to represent their states on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, Mr. Ntaku, stated that the Senate demonstrated maturity by allowing the interest of the people to prevail over their position not to confirm nominations from the Presidency on the grounds that they were offended by remarks made by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to the effect that the Executive did not need the approval of the Senate for political appointments.

The President had, in March 2017, replaced the nominees for Abia, Imo and Ondo States for the NDDC board following the rejection by the Senate on the grounds that they were not indigenes of oil producing areas as stipulated by the Act establishing the Commission.

Mr. Ntaku, who hails from Ukwa West, the only oil producing local government area in Abia State said the Senate would have done his people a great disservice to the affected states if they had continued to delay the confirmation of the nominees, adding that it was important for those in government to realise that peace in the oil producing communities was very crucial for steady economic growth of the nation.

He lamented over the fact that the three states have remained without a representative on the board of the NDDC for over the past 15 months thereby increasing the feelings of marginalisation of the people whose resources are being used to maintain the various governmental institutions including the national Assembly.

While thanking the Senate for eventually confirming the nominees, he was full of praises for the youths of the oil bearing communities of the affected states for not resorting to violence to achieve what has been guaranteed to them by an Act of parliament.

The Communications expert called on governments at all levels to always avoid issues that would pitch them against the masses of Nigeria by observing the rule of law, stressing that the body language of people, particularly those in authority has a lot to do with the perception of the people.

He highlighted the fact that the tension generated by the nomination of those persons who were not from oil producing areas would have been avoided if the federal government had taken time to look at the Act establishing the NDDC before sending names to the Senate.