Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has assured that he will complete all legacy and people-oriented projects in the Niger Delta region, irrespective of who started the project.
Ogbuku spoke at a capacity building and sensitisation programme on due process compliance and anti-corruption standard, organised by the Peace and Development Project, PEDEP, with the theme, “Promoting Awareness for Transparency and Accountability in the Public Sector”.
The NDDC boss, represented by the Executive Director, Projects, Chief Victor Antai, said he was poised to change the wrong narratives and move NDDC from transaction to transformation that has zero tolerance for graft.
“For all I know, Government is a continuum where everybody has performed within the ambit of his of her capabilities. We came in, we inherited a government and we are going to complete all legacy projects in the region irrespective of who initiated the project.
“It is imperative that under Samuel Ogbuku’s regime, he has decided that irrespective of who initiated the project, so far as the project has direct bearing to the betterment of the people of Niger Delta, he would complete them.
“With that, we can have more projects commissioned. With this we can have more projects competed. With that we will eliminate project abandonment, that is the regime of Ogbuku, who is poised to rewrite the wrongs of Niger Delta. He is committed to move this region forward,” he said.
The Acting Director of Dispute and Conflict Resolution at NDDC, Barr Godwin Ogedegbe, said the programe was imperative to look into the synergy and collective actions, which are aimed at confronting bribery and corruption in the discharge of their duties.
He said: “We are working in synergy with the anti-graft agencies, ICPC, Code of Conduct Bureau, they are here to lecture us and teach us of what is expected of us as staff. So when we are carrying out our duties in the office we will not be found coupable. We are expected to follow the rules, this includes the ICPC act, the CCB, the EFCC act.
“When we are working, we need to apply these laws so we will not violate any is the laws. We need to apply these laws so will not be get involved in any sharp practices so we will not be invited to answer questions.
“When Accountability is not there. When when there is lack of transparency what will happen is conflict and we don’t want conflict in NDDC. If every government agencies and parastata, is doing this project like the NDDC MD is doing staff will not fall law of what they are not supposed to do.”
Earlier, the Secretary of the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission, Barr Clifford Oparaodu, called on public officers to shun corrupt practices and avoid the culture of impunity and embrace integrity.
“Eliminating corruption and other related practices from our dear country will be lot easier if more ministries and agency like you are involved in the anticorruption campaign. People will be courageous to demand for accountability from their leaders and the resultant effects will be improvement of service delivery and efficiency.
“An inefficient system is a fertile ground for opportunities for corrupt practices to germinate and grow unchecked. The public are entitled and should be able to access qualitative public service without much trouble. This way much leeway for corruption will be eliminated.
“Many Nigerians share the common believe that corruption is the biggest challenge in the nations quest for development since independence the available statistics supports this position. A lot of efforts have been made in the past in just stating the problem without any sustained efforts towards addressing or eliminating the problems. We all have a duty to reverse this situation,” he stated,
