The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced that it is taking steps to eliminate duplication and waste and to improve coordination with state governments in the region.
The NDDC Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, made this statement on Monday at the 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The conference was themed “Partners for Sustainable Development Forum-NDDC 2024.”
He made known that the stakeholders’ forum aimed at giving out platform to achieving an effective budgeting system in line with the “Renewed Hope’’ project of the Federal Government.
“This conference is very vital. For one, it helps to revive the platform of the partners for sustainable development forum which was created as part of the regional master plan implementation guideline, to bring all service providers and project implementers to the same table to fashion a common pathway based on shared vision for the development of the Niger Delta region.”
“For another, it affords all of us the incentive and opportunity to pool our resources together, initiate projects and programmes within the obligatory goal of building a better region and empowering our people.
He said, “By so doing, we would, arising from the conference, galvanize our energies for a common purpose, eliminate duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process, reduce incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reduce wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional developmental initiatives by all stakeholders.”
Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs, in his address attributed the poor implementation strategy of the NDDC over the years to the late submission of budgets.
Belgore, who was represented by Mr. Alfred Abba, the Director of Planning and Statistics of the ministry, urged the new management to develop and adopt a budgetary process that is in line with the provisions of the relevant Establishment Act.
He said, “Undoubtedly, NDDC budgets over the years have been faced with challenges, which included belated submission, delayed approvals amongst others.
“These challenges have led to low/poor implementation of which this conference intends to address. I will encourage the Commission to continue to evolve and adopt a budgetary process that is in tandem with the stipulated provisions of the relevant Establishment Act.
“The Sections 18 and 19 of the NDDC Act, require the Commission’s Board to submit a Budget proposal of a succeeding year, no later than 30th September of the current year, thus the 2024 Budget of the Commission ought to be submitted by 30th September, 2023.”
The ministry promised to provide the commission with the necessary assistance to ensure that its annual budgets are passed. The ministry also called on the commission to adopt a robust and innovative approach to budgeting that is anchored on transparency and stakeholder participation.
The two-day conference was attended by representatives of the governments of the nine Niger Delta states, international oil companies, traditional rulers, youth groups, civil society organizations, and others.