The House of Representative has declared illegal, the current appointment of a sole administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission, asking the Federal Government to properly constitute a board for the zonal body.

The House also alleged that some member states have been marginalised in the leadership and management of the NDDC since inception, demanding that the critical leadership positions should be zoned to the affected states.

At the plenary on Thursday, a member of the House from Ondo State, Kolade Akinjo, had moved a motion titled ‘Need to Comply with the Niger Delta Development Commission Act, 2000 in the composition of the Governing Board.’

As the lawmakers unanimously adopted the motion, they resolved to “urge the Federal Government to adhere to the provisions of the NDDC Act 2000 by constituting the governing board” and to adhere to the provisions of Section 4 of the NDDC Act 2000 “by considering Delta State, which is next in alphabetical order for the position of the chairmanship of the board.”

The House further urged the Federal Government to adhere to the provisions of Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act 2000 “by considering Ondo, Edo and Imo member states, which in this order are next in quantum of production of 5th, 6th and 7th, for the positions of the Managing Director, Executive Director, Finance and Administration; and Executive Director, Projects of the board, respectively.”

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Akinjo partly said, “The House notes that great injustice has characterised the composition of the board of the NDDC as regards the offices of the chairman, managing director and the two executive directors.

“The House is disturbed that this situation is not only a worrisome violation of the letters and spirit of the NDDC Act 2000 that established the commission but a suppression of the statutory rights of the remaining member states to these positions.

“The House is concerned that if urgent steps are not taken to reverse this disturbing trend, it will not only be an extensive discrimination against these remaining member States but further engendering a discriminatory practice impeding the participation of these member states in managing the affairs of the Commission formed to cater for them.”

The lawmaker noted that Section 2(1) of the NDDC Act clearly spells out the distraction of the offices to the states. He added that Section 4 states how the office of the chairman shall rotate among the member states in alphabetical order, starting with Abia State and ending with Rivers State.