A group claims Akwa Ibom has been marginalized in the new NDDC board composition and demands justice

Following the Federal Government’s composition of the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, a coalition of Akwa Ibom State socio-political groups under the aegis of Self Employed Association Of Progressives (SEA-Pro) has alleged marginalisation in the appointment of Akwa Ibomites to the board.

The group, which claimed that Akwa Ibom was denied the right to produce the Executive Director, Finance and Administration on the new board, urged the Federal Government to correct the anomaly as soon as possible or face continued pressure and protest from the people of the state.

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, insisted in a statement signed by the group’s state Coordinator, Ekpuk Jumbo; Deputy State Coordinator, Eket Senatorial District, Mr Ben Ukutt; and General Secretary, Pst Joe It

It stated that the commission should have a managing director and two executive directors who are indigenes of the oil-producing area, in accordance with Section 12 (1) of the existing laws.

It went on to say that it would begin with member states with the highest proportion of oil, which would be rotated among them based on production order.

The group questioned why the positions would be given to Edo State, which is not one of the top four oil-producing states, as evidenced by 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).

“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,” the statement reads in part.

“Akwa Ibom state should take her rightful position as Executive Director Finance and Administration in the current board composition, which has never been granted to it since the agency’s inception.”