The Presidential Committee set up to look into the problems associated with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), yesterday in Abuja submitted an interim report to the Federal Government.
Submitting the report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the chairman of the Committee, Mr Steve Oronsaye stated that the committee has concluded its assignment though tagged ‘interim’.
He also said that the only thing left is for the committee to put the entire memorandum together and send it to the President. “There were challenges and that is the reason, Mr President set up the committee, we have gone, we have seen, and we have brought our report to the president.
“We had terms of reference and we looked into the terms of reference and we have reported on all the terms of reference,” he said.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan on July 27th, 2011 approved the appointment of a Presidential Committee to look into the problems that have hindered the operations of the NDDC.
Additionally, Oronsaye who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Rationalisation of Federal Government Agencies and Parastatals said that the committee would look at the terms of reference when the committee begins its sittings.
He said that though there were challenges but people should not think that because of rationalisation, it was going to lead to job loss. “If anything we are looking at how we can save cost and also deploy people to other agencies where they have values so that Nigeria will be better for it,” he added.
On his part, the SGF said, he was happy that the committee delivered its report on time and ex[pressed his delight that the committee has done a thorough job.
He said the Government would look at the report and implement all its recommendations.
“I want to commend you and your team for this great and difficult job that you have accepted to do for the interest of our father land. I will forward this to the president and necessary action will follow the recommendations.
“When the president looks into the report, and there is need to reconvene the committee you will be notified,” he said.
Members of the committee were Mr. Steve Oronsaye , Chairman. Mr. Bamidele Aturu, Mr. B. O. N. Oti, Representative of the Bureau for Public Procurement, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshew, and Mrs Koripama –Agari.
Others are Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, and Mr Raymond Brown of the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) who served as Secretary.