JONATHAN RAISES COMMITTEE TO AUDIT NDDC CONTRACTS

President Goodluck Jonathan, has appointed a Presidential  Committee to look into the problems hindering the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC)  that have generated grave concern among stakeholders.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, in a statement in Abuja, said the Committee would be chaired  by Mr. Steve Oronsaye.

Members of the committee include: Bamidele Aturu, Mr. B. O. N. Oti, a representative of the Bureau for Public Procurement and Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw.

Others include: Mrs. Koripama-Agari, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim,  Mr. Raymond U. Brown of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who is the Secretary of the committee.

The terms of reference of the Committee, according to the statement, are to take, asses and evaluate a sample inventory of some NDDC projects; evaluate the contractor's prequalification process in the Commission; evaluate the roles and relationship of the board, management and staff of the commission; evaluate the procurement practices of the Commission and its compliance to the letter and spirit of the Public Procurement Act.

The committee will also evaluate the institutionalization of the orientation of all

personnel of the Commission at all levels, in order to inform and manage expectations; evaluate fund management of the Commission; evaluate all other variables (including checks and balances actions) that can be improved upon so as to strengthen the Commission

in the future.
Also, the committee will evaluate compliance or otherwise with the Public Service Rules and extant Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

The main purpose of the Committee's assignment is to review the process and challenges facing the NNDC with a view to making recommendations to Government that would address institutional weaknesses and guide government's constructive intervention to address various issues.

The Committee has two weeks to conclude its assignment.p