CSO Rejects Call For Removal Of NDDC Boss

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance (CCSO4GG) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to disregard calls from a group identifying itself as the “Coalition of Niger Delta Civil Society Organizations.”

CCSO4GG stated that the group had demanded the removal of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director, Mr Samuel Ogbuku, and Board Chairman, Mr Chiedu Ebie, citing unproven allegations of administrative lapses and legal breaches.

In a statement, CCSO4GG spokesman Comrade Johnson Oluwatobi described the coalition as a “collection of political actors” aiming to undermine the NDDC’s leadership.

Oluwatobi argued that the group’s intentions are not genuinely for the benefit of Niger Delta communities but rather an attempt to disrupt the progress made under the current administration.

“Their attempts to destabilise the leadership of Mr. Samuel Ogbuku and Mr. Chiedu Ebie are simply aimed at stalling the developmental strides being made in the region,” he said.

Responding to allegations that Mr Ebie’s appointment violates the NDDC Act of 2000, Oluwatobi categorically rejected the claims, stating that the group had “misrepresented the provisions” of Section 2(2) of the Act.

He clarified that the law does not require the chairman to be from a specific state, affirming that Mr. Ebie’s appointment is lawful.

He added that, under the leadership of Mr Ogbuku and Mr Ebie, the NDDC had made notable improvements across the nine Niger Delta states, including equitable project distribution, infrastructure development, and skill-building initiatives.

He emphasised that the Commission has also prioritised transparency and fairness in its scholarship awards, supporting deserving students across the region.

In recognition of these achievements, CCSO4GG issued a vote of confidence in the NDDC’s current leadership and urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard calls for their dismissal.

“We encourage the public to see beyond the tactics of political actors who are only interested in sabotaging progress,” he said, adding that the current NDDC leadership is committed to the region’s long-term growth.