Stakeholders of the Niger Delta Area of Ondo State have petitioned the National Assembly in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, through the Senator representing Ondo South at the Senate, Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo (SNT), over alleged ongoing illegal recruitment of over 300 senior workers in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In a petition signed by the trio of Otunba Erejuwa Adesina, Mr. Olatunji Afolabi, and Hon. Segun Medunoye, on behalf of themselves and the people of the Oil Communities in Ondo State, they accused the Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Professor Nelson Braimbraifa, the Acting Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Chris Amadi, and Engr. Samuel Adjogbe, the Acting Executive Director of Projects, of illegally and hurriedly embarking on a massive recruitment of senior workers without due compliance with the laid down procedures for recruitment of senior workers as contained in the public service rules.

In a copy of petition obtained in Akure by Starnews on Thursday, they described the said recruitment as illegal, fraudulent, and capable of sparking up another major crisis among the Nine (9) states of the Niger Delta Region.

Starnews reports that the Acting MD of the Commission did not answer his phone calls as at press time when his reaction was sought by our correspondent.

The full letter as addressed to the President of the Senate reads:

”The President of the Senate,  

Sen. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D, CON,

National Assembly,

Abuja. 

Through; 

Senator Nicholas Tofowomo SNT (Ondo South)

Letter of Protest Against Ongoing Massive Illegal  Recruitment of Senior Workers In The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

We, the undersigned are real stakeholders of the Niger Delta Area of Ondo State. We write for ourselves and on behalf of our people in Ondo State. 

Mr. President of the Senate, just as it is stated in the above caption, there is a massive illegal recruitment of senior workers in the NDDC, a process that was hurriedly commenced yesterday, August 7, 2019, to illegally absorb over 300 senior workers without due compliance with the laid down procedures for recruitment of senior workers as contained in the public service rules by the Acting Managing Director, Professor Nelson Braimbraifa, Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr Chris Amadi, and Engr. Samuel Adjogbe, the Acting Executive Director (Projects) 

The said recruitment is not only illegal, but it is also fraudulent and capable of sparking up another major crisis among the Nine (9) states of the Niger Delta Region.

Mr. President of the Senate will recall that the NDDC is a special Commission unlike many other commissions created by the Act of the National Assembly – NDDC Act 2000 to evenly and equitably develop the hitherto deprived region and to proffer lasting solution to the social-economic difficulties of the affected region.

As stated inter alia, the recruitment of senior public servants in line with public service rules follows systematic stages and not one that could be hurriedly done as being carried out now in the NDDC.

Also, by the provision of the Act, the Commission only empowers the board which comprises the following: the Chairman, Managing Director /CEO, Executive Director Finance and Administration, Executive Director Projects and Nine (9) Representatives of the NDDC member states, representative of the ministry of environment, one representative of the ministry finance, to carry out recruitment if need be and not by anyone in acting capacity. In the same vein, recruitment in NDDC must be by quota in accordance with the Act.

This provision of the law is vital in order to safeguard and prevent nepotism, favouritism, corruption and lopsided appointments in the NDDC.

Regrettably, Mr. President of the Senate, the trio of acting MD, Acting ED F&A and Acting EDP, have overreached their bounds by tinkering with the most sensitive aspect of the functions of the NDDC (recruitment) in flagrant disobedience to all extant rules regarding the employment of senior public servants.

This is untenable, unacceptable and would be resisted if urgent steps are not taken by the National Assembly to probe into this illegality.

We urge you sir, to use your good offices to halt this illegality and restore sanity to the commission pending when the board shall be reconstituted.

Singed:

Otunba Erejuwa Adesina

Mr. Olatunji Afolabi 

Hon. Segun Medunoye”