A group, Niger Delta Network, Monday chided those opposing the Ministerial directive for a personnel audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
They said that the annexation and audit process was initiated by the presidency and not the Minister of Niger Delta, Umana Umana.
The group faulted calls for resistance to the audit process, saying the accusation of the annexation of the NDDC commission by the Umana is baseless.
Media reports had it that a group had accused Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Umana, of attempts to annex NDDC, vowing to resist such moves from the minister.
The Niger Delta Network said, “It can no longer be business as usual for unscrupulous persons who used NDDC funds to finance personal or sectional interest.
They stated that, “No one whose recruitment is legal, lawful and legitimate, will oppose or fret over a ministerial directive for a personnel audit of the NDDC.
“We have read with amusement, the sponsored press statement against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Umana, alleging an attempt to annex the NDDC to MNDA.”
“It is on record that the annexation of the commission was initiated by the presidency. The transfer of the supervisory role of the NDDC from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, did not start under Mr. Umana Umana.
“One thing is certain though, there is a new dawn in both the NDDC and the MNDA. It can no longer be business as usual. Unlike in the recent past when corruption was a direct principle of State policy which saw NDDC funds being used to finance personal or sectional interests, the time to do things differently starts now.
Dr. Douglas said: “Except those who perpetrated or benefited from the faulty, flawed and fraudulent staff recruitment exercise, lovers of good governance will attest that the ongoing reforms are meant to ensure that processes and procedures are transparent, and followed due process. Nobody whose recruitment is legal, lawful, and legitimate, will oppose or fret over a Ministerial directive for a personnel audit of the NDDC.
“Abuse of office and public trust must give way to due process, transparency, accountability etc.”
