A joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Niger Delta Development Commission has screened former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Nsima Ekere, former Senate Majority Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and other members appointed into the Board of the Commission.
Presenting the nominees to the Committee, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said the joint committee presented a better platform for the screening.
Enang noted that the coming together of the committee of the Senate and House of Representatives would make the screening exercise smooth, and more efficient.
He solicited continuous cooperation of the legislature for the executive to enable President Muhammadu Buhari deliver on his campaign promises to Nigerians.
In line with the custom of the legislature, Senator Ndoma Egba, chairman designate of the NDDC was told to take a bow and leave as a mark of respect by his former colleagues in the Senate.
However, before he took a bow, Senator Ndoma-Egba assured the committee of his determination to change the narratives of the Niger Delta region if given the opportunity.
In his presentation, Mr. Nsima Ekere, nominee for the position of MD/CEO of NDDC said under him, the commission will prioritize projects to ensure that serious attention is given to projects that will have direct impact on rural communities.
Ekere said, when his appointment is confirmed, he will use the resources allocated to the commission to develop infrastructures and human capacity to address development needs of the Niger Delta in order to quell the agitations in the region arising from under-development.
The former Deputy Governor said he has drawn up a plan to engage relevant sectors of government in a manner that will prompt releases of percentage of funds stipulated for the commission, for instance from the “ecological fund”.
He said he will cooperate with the legislature in areas of policies formulation for the overall peace and development of the region and the country.
Other nominees screened by the committee were Engr. Adjogbe Samuel, Mr. Mene Lenyie Derek, Hon Samuel George, Mr. Frank Samuel George, Prof Brambaifa, Air Commodore Benard Banfa, Yahaya Mohammed and Mustapha Dankadai.
The committee later adjourned to Wednesday, October 5 for the screening of the remaining nominees.
