…CSO Condemns Opposition To NDDC’s Audit

A civil society organisation (CSO) under the aegis of Niger Delta Network (NDN), yesterday condemned action by some individuals and organisations opposing the proposed personnel audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as directed by the federal government.

The group said those opposed to the government’s planned reforms of the commission, had sponsored media reports against the minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana, accusing him of plotting to annex the interventionist agency.

Dr John Douglas, director of public communications of the group in a statement in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, described the allegation against the new Niger Delta Affairs Minister, as “baseless insinuations aimed at blackmailing the Minister”.

Parts of the statement read, “We have read with amusement, the above sponsored press statement against the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Umana Umana, alleging attempt to annex the NDDC to the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry.

“No one whose recruitment is legal, lawful and legitimate, will oppose or fret over a Ministerial directive for a personnel audit of the NDDC. It can no longer be business as usual for unscrupulous persons who used NDDC funds to finance personal or sectional interests.
“It is on record that the annexation of the commission was initiated by the presidency. The transfer of the supervisory role of the NDDC from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, did not start under Mr Umana Umana.”

The CSO sent warning to the protestants, saying it can no longer be business as usual for those who are against sanitization of the commission. The body said unlike in the past when corruption was a directive principle of state policy, which saw NDDC funds being used to finance personal or sectional interests, the time to do things differently starts now, abuse of office and public trust must give way to due process, transparency, accountability.