Senate disagrees with Buhari on one of NDDC board member

The Senate on Tuesday turned down one of the nominees by President Muhammadu Buhari for the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Senate, however, confirmed Pius Odubu as NDDC Chairman, in addition to 14 other nominees.

It was learn that the Senate rejected a nominee of the President, Dr. Joy Nunieh, as a member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board because she declined to appear before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta for screening.

President Buhari on October 29, 2019, communicated a list of nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation for appointment into the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan had read the letter announcing the 16-member board at plenary.

The NDDC’s Board nominees include the Chairman, Pius Odubu (Edo); Managing Director, Bernard O. Okumagba (Delta); Executive Director Projects, Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom); Executive Director Finance and Admin, Maxwell Okoh (Bayelsa); Delta State representative, Prophet Jones Erue; Chief Victor Ekhatar (Edo); Joy Yimebe Nunieh (Rivers); and Nwogu N. Nwogu).

Others include Theodore A. Allison (Bayelsa); Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom); Maurice Effiwatt (Cross River); Olugbenga Elema (Ondo); Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo); Northwest Rep, Aisha Murtala Muhammed (Kano); Northeast Rep, Ardo Zubairu (Adamawa) and North Central Rep, Amb. Abdullahi M Bage (Nasarawa).

Meanwhile, the NDDC is being run by an interim management committee recently inaugurated by the Minister of the Niger Delta after dissolving the Caretaker Committee appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.