Niger Delta Indigenous Contractors Association has appealed to the federal government to urgently release the sum approved for the Niger Delta Development Commission
The Senate had in May approved over N1 trillion for the 2021 and 2022 budget of the commission.
National President of NDICA, Dressman Darlinton-Gbolobofa, while speaking at a news briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday said the delay in the release of the funds is affecting the agency’s performance
He said the release of the funds will enable the interventionist agency function optimally and effectively deliver on its mandate of ensuring the development of the crude oil and gas rich, but impoverished region.
Darlinton-Gbolobofa added, “It is one thing for the budget to be passed and approved, and another to fund the budget.
“So we are pleasing with the federal government to release the funds to the commission so that the MD and his team can carry out their functions effectively.”
Similarly, he called on multinational oil and gas companies operating in the region to fast track the release of their funds to the NDDC to enable the management resolve its ‘contractual liabilities’
While lauding President Bola Tinubu for the dissolution of the board of some federal patastatals, the association thanked him for sparing the NDDC management led Dr Samuel Ogbuku, describing him as a man of ‘proven integrity and competence’.
The NDICA National President stated,” The commission under Dr Ogbuku has led the way to sensitize the Niger Delta youths on the dangers of pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering/refining activities in the region.
“We therefore pass a vote of confidence on Dr Samuel Ogbuku led management team of the NDDC and urge President Bola , for the sake of comtinuity amd stability to consider and confirm them for reappoinent
