BREAKING: Senate Confirms Onochie, 12 Others For NDDC Board Appointment

The Senate confirms Onochie from Delta State as the Chairman of, the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC along with others. 

The Eagle reports that this confirmation came irrespective of criticisms trailing the nomination of the president’s Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi-Onochie as the substantive Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

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Also confirmed by the Senate is Chief Samuel Ogbuku for the position of Managing Director for a term of two years, to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor in office.

The Upper Chamber has also confirmed Major-General Charles Airhiavbere, retd from Edo State, South-South for the position of Executive Director, Finance, and Charles Ogunmola, Ondo State, South West for the position of Executive Director, Projects.

The confirmation of the Chairman and other board members by the Senate was a sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs by the Acting Chairman, Senator Buius Amos, APC, Gombe South.

The Senate however stepped down the confirmation of former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Egberanwen Odubu, State Representative, Edo State, South, and Engr.  Anthony Okanne, Imo State, South East for non-appearance for screening before the Committee.

Also confirmed were Dimgba Erugba (State Representative, Abia, South-East; Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills, State Representative, Akwa Ibom, South-South; Elder Dimaro Denyabofa,  State Representative, Bayelsa State, South-South;  Hon. Orok Duke, State Representative, Cross River, South-South;  South-East and Hon. Gbenga Edema,  State Representative, Ondo State, South–West.

Others were  Elekwachi Dinkpa, State Representative, Rivers State, South-South;  Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, ( Zonal Representative, Nasarawa State, North-Central; Alhaji Sule Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami (Zonal Representative, Kebbi State, North-West; and Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, (Zonal Representative, Adamawa State, North-East.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had on 25th November written the Senate, seeking the confirmation of his  Special Assistant on New Media, Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie from Delta as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

President Buhari who wrote the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said that the Correspondent was in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(2)A of the NDDC Act, Cap N 86, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Other members of the NDDC board as forwarded to the Senate are Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu as State Representative, Edo State, South-South; Dimgba Erugba (State Representative, Abia, South-East); Dr. Emem Wilcos Wills, State Representative, Akwa Ibom, South-South; Elder Dimaro Denyabofa,  State Representative, Bayelsa State, South-South;  Hon. Orok Duke, State Representative, Cross River, South-South;  Engineer Anthony Okanne,  State Representative, Imo State, South-East and Hon. Gbenga Edema,  State Representative, Ondo State, South–West.

Others are  Elekwachi Dinkpa, State Representative, Rivers State, South-South;  Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, ( Zonal Representative, Nasarawa State, North-Central; Alhaji Sule Iko Sadeeq Sani Sami (Zonal Representative, Kebbi State, North-West; and Professor Tahir Mamman, SAN, (Zonal Representative, Adamawa State, North-East.

Recall that Senators from oil-producing communities have protested and a court injunction against the nominees of President Buhari for the position of chairman, managing director, and executive director of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

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The first protest against the list was from the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who pointed out that Delta State was not fully represented on the board of the NDDC as read at plenary. He explained that the NDDC Act stipulates that there should be another nominee from any state that produces the Chairman.

Omo-Agege maintained that since Onochie is from the state, there must be another nominee to serve on the board from Delta.

Also, Senator Thompson Sekibo from Rivers State, wondered why President Buhari should send a fresh list to the Senate since the red chamber had earlier screened and confirmed in 2020 the president’s nominees who were not inaugurated.