President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday forwarded to the Senate three new names to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC for replacement of those earlier rejected by the upper chamber.
The nominees are Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Ondo state; Chuka Ama Nwauwa from Imo state and Nwogu N. Nwogu, Abia state.
The three persons are for the position of Non-Executive Directors.
Senate President Bukola Saraki read the letter from President Buhari at plenary yesterday. The letter dated 29th March,2017 and signed by President Buhari, read, “In the accordance with section 228 of the NDDC Act 2000, I hereby present the following nominees to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for confirmation of the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The distinguished senate is invited to note that these nominees are replacement of those that were rejected for not representing the oil producing areas of their respective states.”
1. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Non – Executive Director, Ondo.
2. Hon. Chuka Ama Nwauwa, Non – Executive Director, Imo.
3. Nwogu N. Nwogu, Non – Executive Director, Abia.
“Copies of their Curriculum Vitae are attached herewith. I hope that the request will receive the usual expeditious consideration and confirmation of the Distinguished Senate. Please accept, Distinguished President of the Senate, the assurances of my highest consideration and regards.”
Recall that the senate had in October 2016 rejected three nominees out of the nineteen members of the NDDC board sent to it by the President.
They were Donatus Enyinnaya representing Abis state on the board,Osita Izunaso from Imo state and Olatokunboh Ajasin Ondo state. Enyinnaya and Ajasin were rejected because they were not from oil producing areas of their respective states while Osita Izunaso declined the appointment.
During the debate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe had pointed out that Section 2(1) (b) of the NDDC Act stipulates that nominees for the board of the commission must be from communities where oil was produced.
Also recalled that the Senate had in October last year, confirmed the nomination of former Senate leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Nsima Udo Ekere as Managing Director of the commission.
Other nominees who were approved were Adjogbe Samuel, Mene Derek, Frank George, Brambaifa Nelson and Sylvester Nsa. The nomination of Ogaga Ifowodo, Uwuilekhue Saturday, Harry Dabibi, Benard Banfa, Yahaya Mohammed and Mustapha Dankadai was also confirmed.
Two other nominees, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse and Abdul-Kazeem Bayero from the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Environment, respectively, were also accepted by the lawmakers.
However, the membership of the two civil servants on the board, according to the senate, will cease whenever they are transferred from their present ministries.
The chamber rejected the nomination of three members on grounds that their nomination contravened the NDDC Act of 2007.
The Act stipulates that only persons from oil producing communities could be appointed to such positions. A nominee, Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo) had declined his nomination, explaining that he was not from oil-producing part of his state. (Vanguardngr.com)
