Kenneth Afor |
The Africa Network For Environment And Economic Justice (ANEEJ) has stated that persons involved of malfeasance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted in order to avoid future occurrence of corruption revealed recently in the NDDC.
This was stated in a press release on Wednesday by the organisation.
The NDDC which was set up in the year 2000 to initiate developmental projects in the oil rich region for the people but after 20 years of existence of the commission the narrative of underdevelopment, environmental pollution as a result of oil spillages and degredation in the area, poverty and social injustice are still prevalent.
These inhumane activities going on according to ANEEJ can be traced to the high level of corrupt practices in the commission since it was established.
“20 years after its establishment, the Commission has consistently failed to live up to this clear mandate and has instead exposed the Niger Delta peoples to neglect and misery while bringing much scorn to the region.
“We are saddened by the fact that rather than develop the region, the huge allocations to the NDDC has rather bequeathed a legacy of abandonment, neglect and underdevelopment. Despite the huge yearly allocations to the Commission in the last 20 years, poor management and corruption has made it impossible for the agency to exert any reasonable measure of positive impact on the region,” it stated.
ANEEJ, further stated that it has at several times called the attention of the federal government to the failures of the commission but successive administrations have consistently refused to take action in instilling accountability and transparency in the commission.
Also, the organisation fears that the recently concluded probe by the National Assembly could end in the same manner of previous probings especially with the way and manner it ended.
Therefore, it is calling on the government and the anti graft agencies to swiftly “take actions to commence the proposed forensic audit of the Commission adding that the audit process must be conducted by globally recognized audit firms with experience in similar audit exercises, who must be selected through an open, free and competitive bidding process.
“Also, credible civil society organizations should be allowed to closely monitor the audit process in ensuring fairness, accuracy and compliance with the highest standards.
” Publication of the details of all contractors to the NDDC against the contracts they executed on-behalf of the Commission as well as publication of the list of NGOs that benefited from the cash grants from the NDDC.
“The NDDC must henceforth embark on projects determined by the communities to avoid the persistent frittering of resources through insatiable private pockets and immediate publication of the report the Auditor-General and NEITI on the NDDC,” it stated.
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