……CPC Initiatives CEPTG’s Projects Tracking, Partners Social Action Towards NDDC’s Accountability
Citizens and CSOs Set Agenda For Tinubu’s Administration Towards Improving Accountability and Service Delivery on NDDC.
….. Social Action, CSOs, Development Activists Urges Tinubu’s Administration To Make NDDC’s Forensic Reports Public.
……. Social Action, CSOs, Stakeholders Tasks NDDC, Niger-Delta Leaders On Region’s Development Under Tinubu’s Administration.
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
As part of efforts towards ensuring accountability in Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and to deliver on its mandate to the people of Niger-Delta Region,, Social Development Integrated Centre, ( Social Action), Civil Society Organizations has set agenda for President Bola Tinubu’s new Administration on Strengthening Accountability in NDDC.
This came up as Independent Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Partners Social Action, to deploy one it’s initiatives, a modern methods called Constituency & Executive Projects Tracking Groups (CEPTG) to track projects not properly implemented or diverted.
Our reporter was one of the media observers that witnessed the Twitter space conference on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 tagged: “Setting Agenda For The NDDC Under The New Administration”. The Platform provided opportunity for citizens to share their opinions on how the NDDC can better deliver on its mandate to the people of Niger-Delta Region.
Social Action’s Programs Coordinator, Botti Isaac in his welcome address to the entire participants commended MacArthur Foundation, its development partner for sponsorship, support towards the actualization of set objectives on advocacy, working towards promoting accountability in the NDDC for improved service delivery. He used the opportunity that thank Civil Society Organizations, Social Development Practitioners, the Media, Citizens of the Niger-Delta region, other critical stakeholders who honored the invitations and joined the discussion in the Twitter space to constructively discuss how to promote accountability in the NDDC under the new administration. Tijah Bolton, the Moderator of the event who anchored the program noted that now is the right time for CSOs and citizens on the region to engage this conversation. He opined that as the new administration settles in, key demands from the citizens should be on the front burner of the administration.
The panelists who spoke during the discussion included amongst others are: The Chairman, Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Comrade Olarenwaju Suraji, The Executive Director, Centre For Transparency & Advocacy, Faith Nwadishi; a Political Economist, Analyst & Legislative Scholar, Dr. Uche Igwe, Rights Activist & Journalist, Dr Chido Onumah, Journalists, CSOs leaders in the Niger-Delta region, citizens as critical stakeholders tasked NDDC on accountability, improved service delivery in this present administration, President Tinubu to make NDDC’s Forensic Reports Public, Niger-Delta leaders to wake up, stop toiling with Niger-Delta Development, citizens to wake up and monitor Region’s institutions.
ICPC official, Assistant Director , Public Enlightenment & Education Department, Mrs Ese Ekwong has assured Social Action, citizens, CSOs leaders, Development Activists, and other critical stakeholders of partnership so as to see that , NDDC remains accountable, monitor money spent track projects not implemented or diverted in Niger-Delta region as anti-graft agency promises action, charges citizens to report happenings in their communities, LGAs, States, ICCP says, it has developed, launched, initiated CEPTG models to track NDDC projects.
Stakeholders while sharing their opinions during the Twitter conservation suggested the following points as way-forward, solutions to promote accountability and ensure improved service delivery in the NDDC. Faith Nwadishi said: “If President Tinubu must promote reforms, accountability in NDDC, he must ensure that, the Forensic Audit Reports is made public, Niger-Delta leaders must be committed to the development of the region”. Chido Onuma said: “Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yet to meet up with the recently established North East Development Commission in development index as a result of corruption and lack of productivity. We enjoin the Commission to be transparent in their dealings”.
At the end of the panel session other demands as posed forward by the stakeholders are as stated below. Olarenwaju Suraji during the conversation stated: “Niger-Delta Region still battling with poor representation by its leaders who are not committed to the course of the region. Dr. Uche Igwe has tasked National Assembly to be up and doing in its oversight functions to the NDDC and avoid being used as conduit pipe to corruption in the Commission. “People of Niger Delta should get involved on things affecting their projects by NDDC, Austin Aigbebor noted. We all must push to investigate previous NDDCs heads, and punish where necessary and set agenda for standard”, Isaac. Obasi stated.
“NDDC should create avenue for direct engagement with the people rather than restraining the people from participating in the process”, Oluchi Alphonsus stated. If we can expedite action on the implementation of the PIA, it may overtime reduce the relevance of the NDDC, and perhaps confine them to oversight activities of the PIA and focus on national roads and infrastructures within the region, Dr. Harry Udoh stated. As part of the agenda setting for the new administration, can we ask the new administration to make public the NDDC Audit Report”, Mfon Gabriel queried the FGN.