IYC threatens invasion of NDDC if FG fails to name substantive board

LEADERSHIP of the Ijaw Youth Council ( IYC), yesterday, restated the need for the Federal Government to inaugurate a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC).

They argued that the Interim Management Committee ( IMC) of the commission had outlived its usefulness and has nothing new to add to the development of the region.

A statement issued by President of Ijaw Youths Worldwide, Peter Igbiifa, noted that the IMC’S lacklustre and uninspiring performance was glaring.

It said it was no longer comfortable with the interim agreement in the commission and demanded the inauguration of a substantive board, failing which the council would have no choice than to occupy the NDDC Head Office.

“Inaugurating a substantive board would not stop the forensic auditors or consultants from carrying out their job. If the intention of the forensic audit is for the benefit of the region and not for some self- serving purposes, the Niger Delta people request that the inauguration of the substantive board should be done along with the forensic audit.

“The council will work closely with other leaders of the region to ensure that when inaugurated, the board works to fulfill the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the region,” the statement reads.

The group stressed that the inauguration of a substantive board for the NDDC was long overdue and that there were people who derive pleasure in ensuring that there was perpetual strife, economic backwardness and injustice in the Niger Delta region.

IYC further stated that some persons were not happy when President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the IMC on

October 30, 2019 to oversee NDDC’S affairs as the forensic auditors were on their assignment.

“One of the primary reasons for the appointment of the IMC, which negates the NDDC Act, is to the effect that the audit assignment should be done without interference.

“We don’t have any problem with that, but as a council and a prominent voice in the region, we are at a loss to the effect that, there is no audit going on in the NDDC and even if there is, that does not stop the President from inaugurating a substantive board for the commission,” it added.