President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed the underlying issues plaguing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
While addressing attendees at the conclusion of the NDDC’s 25th anniversary celebration in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, Akpabio stated that discord among the management team has contributed to the organization’s challenges.
The Senate President noted that over 17,500 projects initiated by the NDDC have been left unfinished due to changes in leadership.
“Why do we face so many difficulties within the NDDC? There are several factors. A significant part of it stems from leadership conflicts. In the Niger Delta, we encounter a political culture where everyone wants to be in charge, leading to a refusal to wait their turn.
“There has always been an environment of conspiracy. Each management team within the NDDC would scheme against one another. Furthermore, the staff members present would support these disputes and before long, they would push you out, possibly enabling one of them to step into the role of acting Managing Director.
“When I served as Minister of Niger Delta, I recognized that this was the core problem. For over two decades, the NDDC operated from a rented office on Aba Road, paying N300 million annually, without any connection to the national power grid,” he stated.
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