IYC hails Reps’ decision to dissolve NDDC interim management

Wants Godswill Akpabio sanctioned
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday commended the decision of the House of Representatives requesting the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to dissolve the interim management committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).The appointment of an interim management committee by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the confirmation of the NDDC board by the Senate had created leadership crisis in the NDDC.

The IYC President, Eric Omare, in a statement applauded the decision and said that the House of Representative had demonstrated that it exists to protect the rule of law for democracy to thrive in Nigeria.

The Ijaw youth body further commended the House of Representatives for reinforcing the position of the Senate that the interim management committee is illegal, null and void in the light of the confirmation of the NDDC board members by the Senate in conjunction with the House of Representatives.

Omare said: “The National Assembly has saved the Niger Delta region from a state of chaos just as the chambers saved Nigerian democracy with the proclamation of the doctrine of necessity in the year 2010.”

The IYC also urged the National Assembly to sanction Akpabio for insisting on the continuance in office of the illegal interim management committee despite the resolutions of the National Assembly and the clear provisions of the NDDC Establishment Act.

The IYC president said the action of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was an affront on the powers of the National Assembly and that there should be sanction to act as deterrent to others and put a stop to the ongoing act of illegality in the NDDC.He equally urged President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the board of the NDDC that had been confirmed by the Senate to enable the commission attend to the urgent developmental issues, adding that the Niger Delta region is massively suffering the absence of a substantive leadership of the NDDC and it would amount to great injustice to the region to further delay the inauguration of the board.