Oronsaye heads NDDC Probe Committee

 
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of a presidential committee to look into the problems that have hindered the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) and generated several concerns among stakeholders.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, announced that the committee had Mr Steve Oronsaye as chairman; Mr Raymond U Brown, secretary and Mr Bamidele Aturu, Mr B. O. N. Oti, representative of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Mrs Kori-pamo-Agari and Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim as members.

The terms of reference of the committee, according to the SGF, among others, are to take, assess and evaluate a sample inventory of some NDDC projects; to evaluate the contractor's pre-qualification process in the commission; to evaluate the roles and relationship of the board, management and staff of the commission and to evaluate the procurement practices of the commission and its compliance to the letter and spirit of the Public Procurement Act.

The main purpose of its assignment was to review the process and challenges facing the NNDC, with a view to making recommendations to the government to address institutional weaknesses and guide on constructive intervention to address various issues

The committee has two weeks to conclude its assignment, which takes off on Monday, August 1.