Following the composition of the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, by the Federal Government, a coalition of socio-political groups in Akwa Ibom State, under the aegis of Self Employed Association Of Progressives (SEA-Pro), has alleged marginalisation in the appointment of Akwa Ibomites into the board.
The group, which alleged that Akwa Ibom was denied its right to produce the Executive Director, Finance and Administration in the new board, urged the Federal Government to correct the anomaly as soon as possible or risk persistent pressure and protest from people in the state.
In a statement signed by the group’s state Coordinator, Ekpuk Jumbo; Deputy State Coordinator, Uyo Senatorial District, Mr Goddy Unyah; Deputy State Coordinator, Eket Senatorial District, Mr Ben Ukutt; and General Secretary, Pst Joe Ita, it insisted that the appointment in the board, as presently constituted, is in contrary to extant provisions of the Act establishing the commission in 2000.
It said that with Section 12 (1) of the extant laws, the commission should have a managing director and two executive directors who shall be indigenes of the oil-producing area.
It added that it would start with member states with the composition of the highest quantum of oil, which would rotate among them based on the production order.
The group, however, wondered why the positions would be given to Edo State, which is not among the four top oil-producing states, as data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) proved that.
The statement reads in part, “we view with great consternation the height of marginalisation, oppression, suppression and deprivation in the recently constituted statutory board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“Akwa Ibom state should in the present board composition take her rightful position of Executive director Finance and Administration which had never been granted to it since the establishment of the agency.”
Group alleges Akwa Ibom marginalised in new NDDC board composition, demands justice
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