By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
A coalition of Civil Society groups, Community based organizations and other patriotic organizations in the Niger Delta, have commended President Bola Tinubu for retaining the Managing Director and other management committee members of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
They have also said that those condemning Tinubu for retaining the MD and the two Executive Directors are ignorant of the enabling act establishing the commission as the President’s decision was in compliance with the enabling act.
The National President, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, Amb. Kennedy West, who stated this at a press conference on behalf of the Coalition in Uyo yesterday also appealed to the President to reconsider members of the dissolved Board for reappointment.
West maintained that there was no need replacing the board and the management committee having just been inaugurated six months ago and have commenced a fruitful engagement with stakeholders as this could return the commission to another era of uncertainty and instability.
According to him, “the dissolution of board of federal parastatals and agencies, which takes place according to tenure limits, change or transition to a new government in power, is not done as a punitive measure.
“For the Niger Delta Development Commission, it was a matter of mixed reactions, when the commission was named among parastatals and agencies dissolved by the Federal Government.
“We are relieved to know that the Managing Director, the Executive Directors Projects and the Executive Director Finance and Administration were retained to manage the Commission pending the constitution of a new board.
“We are gladdened by this kind gesture of the President.For the records, the dissolved NDDC board started off on a good note. We appeal to Mr. President to consider dissolved members of the board for reappointment.
“We find very distasteful, naysayers who are condemning the good intentions of Mr. President in retaining the Management Committee.Flowing from the above, we seek to make the following points to buttress our position on the dissolution of the Board and retention of the Managing Director to oversee the Commission.
“By virue of Section 5(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, it is provided that the executive powers of the President extends to the maintenance of the provisions of the constitution, Acts of the National Assembly and on items on which the national assembly has power for the time being to make law.
“The NDDC is a creation of an Act of the National Assembly, although certain actions of the President, may not be in line with popular opinion, yet they are in substantial compliance with the enabling Acts and current demands of the time.”
He said it was wrong for people to insinuate that the fate of the MD, is tied the General Board who are non-executive Directors.
According to him, “it is also correct to point out that where situations arise, the Managing Director can be retained to oversee the commission pending a reconstitution of the Board.
“Under Section 10, the Management Committee is separated from the Board and made answerable to the general control of the Board. It is then wrong to say that the Managing Director’s fate, including or excluding Executive Directors is tied to the General Board who are non-executive Directors, in the event of dissolution.
“There is no preferential treatment for the NDDC as insinuated. Section 153 (i), of the 3rd Schedule, Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as Amended is clear on the exempted parastatals and councils. The NDDC is a novel case.
“We believe that this exposé is enough to convince all doubting Thomas’s that what Mr. President did by retaining the management Committee is appropriate and best for the commission.”
