The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has made an appeal to the Federal Government, urging them to allow the current board to serve out their full tenure.

The commission also emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity in succeeding boards to ensure the sustainability of ongoing projects.

This appeal was part of the communique released at the conclusion of the NDDC board and Management Retreat, which took place under the theme “Renewed Hope: A New Era for Vitality, Peace, and Development” in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, over the past weekend.

The NDDC highlighted that the frequent changes in the governing board have significantly impacted the execution and delivery of projects in the Niger Delta region. To address this issue, the commission stressed the need for effective synergy, collaboration, and coordination among the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, state governments in the region, the NDDC, and development partners.

Acknowledging the presence of political pressures on the operations of the NDDC, the communique urged the board and management of the commission to demonstrate the necessary political will to handle such challenges.

The communique further stated, “The Federal Government should ensure that the current Board completes its tenure and that there is continuity in succeeding Boards to ensure sustainability of the Commission’s projects. The Commission should establish clear, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that the Commission will demonstrably commit to and deliver upon, fostering increased public trust.”

Additionally, it emphasized the importance of the NDDC’s leadership consistently demonstrating a commitment to ethical principles in their decision-making and behavior.