N/DELTA YOUTHS CANVASS INCREASED FUNDING FOR NDDC …TASK BUHARI ON POCA, NFIC, PIB BILLS

Kingsley Wunye
Youths of the Niger Delta Region under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement- NDYM, have called on the Federal Government to adequately fund the Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC to enable it deliver on its mandate.

In an 11-point Communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Port Harcourt weekend, signed by the President, Joe Jackson and Secretary, Amakuro Isaac, the group also condemned the recent attacks on Creeks in Cross River State by the Nigerian Airforce, describing it as unacceptable.

“We condemn in totality, the bombing of communities in Cross River State by the Nigerian Airforce where scores were killed and many more injured and completely displaced. However, we condemn as well, every form of criminality in the region and Nigeria at large, especially, those aimed at sabotaging the country’s economy.”

“We call on the Government of The Federation to adequately fund the Niger Delta Development Commission-NDDC and other development partners, to enable them fulfill their obligations to the good people of the Niger Delta region.”

“The NEC lauds the insistence of the present NDDC leadership on due process and transparency, especially, the steps taken in checking the age-long practice of abandoned projects by contractors and ensuring the completion of inherited projects before embarking on new ones.”

On the perceived lope-sidedness in the appointments so far made by President Buhari, NDYM urged the Federal government to ensure a reflection of the Federal Character practice.

“We call on the Federal Government to ensure a true reflection of Federal Character in the appointment of Ministers into the Federal Executive Council (FEC), where the Niger Delta Region will also have a sense of belonging.”

They also challenged Multinational companies operating in the region to “ensure the implementation of robust and participatory Corporate Social Responsibility responses to the problem of development in the region, as a way of sustaining the relative peace in oil producing communities and enhance productivity.”

Continuing, the group urged the 8th National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), as it will bring about genuine development and transparency in the industry.

On the President’s promise of commitment to the war against corruption, NDYM added their voice to the call on the President to give his assent to the Proceeds of Criminal Agency -POCA and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre-NFIC Bills, earlier passed by the 7th National Assembly in order to strengthen the legal framework against corruption in Nigeria.

We urge President Buhari to see the whole Country as his immediate constituency and intensify efforts at bringing about the desired change, as Nigerians have long yearned for better living conditions.

“We condemn in strong terms, the senseless attacks by the Boko-haram sect on the lives of defenseless Nigerians in the North – Eastern part of the Country and therefore call on security agencies to step up the fight against the sect and contain its excesses.”

“We candidly urge the Nigerian Police under Solomon Arase to drop the idea of investigating election violence in the oil rich Akwa-Ibom and Rivers State as alleged in some quarters as there are properly constituted tribunals to handle such matters in line with the recommendations of the Electoral Act, as anything short of that will portray the Nigerian Police Force as partisan,

simply acting out a script written by their paymasters, and this, we are ready to resist.”

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Articles by Chike Duru