Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, conveyed this information during his address at the "Partners for Sustainable Development Forum-NDDC 2024" held at Ibom Icon Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday.
Ogbuku noted the significance of the stakeholders' forum, which seeks to align an effective budgeting system with the "Renewed Hope" project of the Federal Government. He emphasized the objective of bringing all service providers and project implementers together to establish a shared vision for the development of the Niger Delta region.
He stated, "By doing so, we would, arising from the conference, galvanize our energies for a common purpose, eliminate duplications and institutional suspicions in the development process, reduce incidence of working at cross purposes as well as reduce wastage of scarce resources allocated for regional developmental initiatives by all stakeholders."
Addressing the conference, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs, attributed the NDDC's historical poor implementation strategy to late budget submissions. Belgore, represented by Mr. Alfred Abba, the Director of Planning and Statistics of the ministry, urged the new management to adopt a budgetary process that aligns with the relevant Establishment Act's stipulations.
Belgore noted, "Undoubtedly, NDDC budgets over the years have been faced with challenges, which included belated submission, delayed approvals amongst others. These challenges have led to low/poor implementation of which this conference intends to address."
He further encouraged the Commission to embrace transparency and stakeholder participation, suggesting that a robust and innovative approach would enhance proper budgeting.
The conference, spanning two days, brought together representatives from the governments of the nine Niger Delta states, international oil companies, traditional rulers, youth groups, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders.
