The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has said it is aware of reports circulating in the media claiming that the palliatives meant for some critical groups in Cross River State were not fairly distributed to supposed beneficiaries.
A statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the commission described the report as misleading and far from the truth.
Thompson-Wakama said Niger Deltans in the nine mandate states of the NDDC, including Cross River State, received the palliatives with joy and gratitude.
He said, “To set the records straight, NDDC distributed palliatives, not money, as alleged in the story circulating in the media and the list of beneficiaries was duly approved by the NDDC Board.
“The Board and Management of the NDDC is now more than ever determined to uphold its mantra, which is: “Making a Difference,” in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region.
“We urge the public to disregard the false stories spread by mischief-makers to derail the various innovations introduced by the NDDC Board and Management, led by the Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie and the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.
“We are fully aware of the increasing need to be seen as more accountable to the public and to conduct our affairs more transparently.
“Responding to this reality, we engaged KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to review and strengthen our corporate governance system and improve our internal processes and institutional protocols. They have helped us establish a new institutional culture anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance.
“We are committed to working with all our stakeholders to drive the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. To achieve this goal, we are collaborating with development partners, including the state governments in the Niger Delta region, “to build a region that is socially stable, economically prosperous, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.”
“We assure our stakeholders and members of the public that the NDDC Board and Management will not be distracted in its resolve to do things differently and make a difference in the Niger Delta region.”
