The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Charles Ogunmola as the Executive Director, Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other Nominees of President Muhammad Buhari at Plenary.
The Senate says “the only Oil producing areas mentioned in the NDDC Act are the Oil Producing States, not the communities or villages that have crude oil” in their domain.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, from Abia State, who led the argument in favor of the confirmation of the nominees said his state once produced the MD of NDDC, the person of Chief Onyema Ogochuchwu and there’s no oil in the local government of Ogochuchwu but Abia is an Oil Producing State.
Citing the argument of Ilana National Alliance Movement (INAMO), Kalu said there’s no crude oil in the Local Government of the immediate past MD of NDDC, Nsima Ekere from Akwa State yet the Senate approved him.
The Senate voted against creating a bad precedent and thus passed all the nominees excluding those who did not attend the screening.
One of those also confirmed is Presidential Aide Lauretta Onochie whose earlier nomination as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission had sparked rejection at the National Assembly.
Lauretta Onochie who has been a Presidential aide since 2015 is known for her constant outbursts and stout defence of the actions of the Federal Government under the Leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.
She was a former Teacher, Blogger and Politician known for her blunt points on issues affecting the President Muhammadu Buhari.
She will now head the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission as the substantive Chairman and will have the responsibility leading the implementation of the developmental agenda of the Federal Government through the agency.
The Niger Delta Development Commission was established under the administration of Former President Olusegun Obasanjo to accelerate development of the Nations’ Oil Producing region and ensure that dividends of Democracy trickle down to the grassroots.
