Following the sack of the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua as the Acting Managing Director of the Commission.
He will hold sway pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director and the constitution of the Governing Board for the NDDC.
On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari had sacked the Interim Administrator of the Commission, Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa after a two-year stint.
Persecondnews recalls that Akwa was appointed on December 12, 2020 following the removal of Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, the then acting MD.
A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), the supervisory ministry, Patricia Deworitshe said.
The statement titled, “NDDC Sole Administrator Relieved of Appointment”, said: “The statement read: ”President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the disengagement of the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa, from his post with effect from today, 20, October 2022.
“Mr. Akwa was appointed interim administrator of the Commission for the duration of the Forensic Audit into the operations of the NDDC, which has now been concluded.
“President Buhari has also approved the constitution of a new Management Team and Governing Board of the NDDC in line with Section (2) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
“The names of the nominees for the new management team and Governing Board are to be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval.”
In November 2019, the Senate had confirmed the nominees for the NDDC board with Dr. Pius Odubu as chairman; Bernard Okumagba (Delta) as managing Director; Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director of Projects; Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director of Finance and Administration; Jones Erue (Delta); Victor Ekhator (Edo); Nwogu N. Nwogu (Abia) and Theodore Allison (Bayelsa).
Others are Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom), Maurice Effiwat (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo), Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo), Aisha Muhammed (North West); Shuaibu Zubairu (North East) and Abdullahu Bage (North Central).
Persecondnews also recalls that the president instead of inaugurating the board confirmed by the Senate, he approved the appointment of an Interim Administrator, Effiong Okon Akwa.
The immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio had repeatedly assured that the already confirmed board of the agency would be inaugurated as soon as the Forensic Audit report was submitted.
The audit report was, however, submitted in August 2021.
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