Oil & Gas
BUHARI Media Vanguard (BMV) and other interest groups have called for avenues to facilitate the tracking of monies deployed to, and spent by, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to ensure judicious use of the resources.
The groups, in a communique issued at the end of a meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, said that citizens’ ability to track budgets and follow expenditure was key to rebuilding citizens’ trust in governments.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the one-day emergency meeting was organised by the national leadership of BMV in partnership with the Transparency Monitors Online (TMO), Niger Delta.
The communiqué was signed by Mr Ade Olaitan of BMV (South West); Pastor Donatus Ovie,
Centre for Public Integrity, Delta State, and six other leaders of various groups.
The emergency meeting focused on media attacks on the Federal Government, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, and the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC.
The media reports had focused on alleged misuse of N40 billion made available to the Commission by the Federal Government.
The groups, in the communiqué, said that the only way to rebuild citizens’ trust in governments and to enable citizens and governments work together to build a better future was for those in authority to make it easy for the followership to track budgets.
“The followership, who is the ultimate beneficiaries of projects, must be encouraged and supported to follow the money from resources to results.
“Citizens and the independent media, as well as appropriate anti-corruption crusaders, must be able to hold leaders accountable, especially in the Niger Delta states,” the communiqué said.
It said that the population of the Niger Delta region was expected to double by 2030, with half of the total figure under the age of 25.
It added that an estimated 2.1 million people in the Niger Delta would, thus, enter the labour market.
“This reality poses an opportunity or risk to the region, depending on whether the state governments are able to harness the potential of the youth.
“The ability and willingness of governments to be responsive to their citizens and invest in measures that create lasting economic growth and development will determine the future; it is our responsibility to advocate compliance to best practices.
“Adequate and effective measures must be taken to rebuild citizens’ trust in governments and to enable citizens and governments work together to build a better future.
“Citizens must be able to track budgets and follow the money from resources to results. Anti-corruption crusaders must be able to hold leaders accountable.”
The communique stated that meaningful steps toward making the vision of a prosperous Niger Delta a reality must be taken at the Youth Stakeholders’ Summit scheduled for May 29.
The groups acknowledged the need to seize the opportunity offered by the summit to deliver meaningful anti-corruption commitments.
“Vague or rhetorical promises by opposition senators in the name of fighting corruption are not enough to rebuild citizens’ trust in the region; we must ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.
“As key stakeholders, we call on state governors and state assemblies members to deliver an ambitious declaration at the 2020 summit; such declaration must include concrete commitments to prevent further corruption.
“It should also include a commitment to give credible anti-corruption bodies and law-enforcement agencies the arsenal needed to effectively combat corruption, while citizens are guaranteed adequate information necessary to make inputs and observations.”
The groups, however, observed that the ongoing presidential forensic audit and recent independent investigative leaks had exposed numerous flaws in the leadership of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC in the period under review – 2007-2015.
They suggested that there must be stakeholders’ analysis of the previous regimes from 2007-2015 to establish a clear financial report to ascertain the issue of underdevelopment and why the region was still a toddler.
The groups commended Akpabio’s implementation of the principles on even and adequate management of the affairs of the ministry amidst challenges, and his capacity to show leadership by example in the areas of effectiveness and transparency.
“His attitude to governance is critical to building formidable, responsive and accountable paths to earn trustworthiness, unlike the previous administrations that kept its citizens in the dark.
“The minister deserve total support to pilot the affairs of the ministry. Any attempt to stagnate development will be resisted,” the communique declared.
It called for aggressive media support for the Mnistry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Interim Management Committee to convey a clear sense of appreciation of their efforts to improve living standards and fight corruption.
Other signatories included Mr Matheson Donald, Vanguard for Transparency and Accountability (Lagos ); Mr Jasper Godspower, Coalition for Niger Delta Youth in Diaspora (UK); and Obong Nicholas, Online Social Networks of Niger Delta.
Others are Edith Solomon, Representatives of Civil Society Groups in Africa (Ghana), Alhaji Aminu Musa Bala, BMV (North) and Pastor Sunny Nnameka, St. Clement Transparency Monitors Online (East). (NAN)
– May 12, 2020 @ 15:05 GMT |
Tags: Citizens’ ability to track NDDC budgets’ll rebuild trust – groups
