Niger Delta
MOSIEND Urges FG To Exempt NDDC From TSA
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on President Bola Tinubu to remove the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
MOSIEND’s National President, Dr. Kennedy West, who made the call in an interview with The Tide’s source on Saturday in Yenagoa, said this would enable the agency discharge its mandate unhindered.
He said just like some other agencies that were exempted from TSA for effective delivery services, NDDC should also be removed from TSA list to fast-track development.
West noted that as an interventionist agency, the NDDC did not need to be bogged down by bureaucratic bottlenecks.
The MOSIEND boss said the TSA procedure was time consuming and causes further delays in the contracting process.
“The Public Procurement Act procedure is there to ensure due process and competitiveness in the contracting exercise.
“It is our view that exempting NDDC from the TSA will hasten the already slowed down contracting cycle. The region is in a hurry to develop, so the waiver is desirable.
“The Federal Government should remove NDDC from TSA list to fast-track development. As an interventionist agency, the NDDC has nothing to do with long bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“That alone is causing a huge setback to development; thus, creating prolonged to go through one rigorous process or the other.
“We are sure that President Tinubu will want to see that in his tenure, he solved issues of the Niger Delta to a logical end before he leaves office”, he said.
West also restated the call for the review of the Act establishing the NDDC, saying that some sections of the Act had become a cog in the wheel of progress of the commission.
According to him, there is the need to review the act that created the NDDC in such a manner that such areas that have been a cog in the wheels of progress of NDDC should be reviewed constitutionally and legally brought to the fore.
“Even before now, we have been advocating it, more so it was also addressed during the summit, where we said that stakeholders should be part of project monitoring and evaluation.
“It is the stakeholders that clamoured for the establishment of the NDDC, even OMPADEC.
“So, how come stakeholders are not part of project monitoring and evaluation? So, this was part of the areas we were advocating and also that the NDDC should be excluded from the TSA.
“These are part of the issues that formed our decision to advocate earlier before now that the NDDC Act should be reviewed and let all those grey areas be addressed permanently”, the MOSIEND president said.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.
The Joint Provincial Council, East of the Niger, Anglican Communion, held its 2025 Annual General Meeting at St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery, Diocese of Evo from Saturday 15th — Sunday 16th February, 2025.
The meeting which had the theme, “Kept By His Mercies”, with text from Lamentations 3:22-23, had the Archbishops, Bishops, their wives, Chancellors, Financial Secretaries and Synod Clerical Secretaries of the 58 Dioceses as delegates.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Chairman of the Council, Most Rev Blessing Enyindah, charged delegates to stay focused and committed to the matters for discussion and implement decisions reached for the growth of the Church in the region and the advancement of the business of God’s Kingdom.
Most Rev Enyindah, who is also the Archbishop of the Niger Delta Province and Bishop of the Diocese of Ikwerre, lauded the Diocese of Evo for the giant strides recorded in just 15 years of existence while tasking the leadership not to rest on its oars but to strive further to complete the work of the Kingdom in their hands.
Addressing the council in his welcome address, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo and host of the Joint Council, The Rt Rev Innocent Ordu, welcomed the delegates, and reminded them that the theme is apt and fit as it reminds the Church of God’s inexplicable and instructible mercy towards mankind, which supersedes His righteous judgements.
Bishop Ordu further lamented the many challenges bedeviling the country, such as skyrocketing cost of living, ravaging sicknesses and ailments, proliferation of harmful drugs, natural disasters, high level corruption in public offices, inept political leadership, amongst others, which he said could not consume mankind because of God’s mercies.
In their separate speeches, delegates saluted the Diocese of Evo for willingly accepting to host the council and the comfort they enjoyed during their stay.
Earlier, the council appointed the Synod’s Clerical Secretary of the Diocese of Evo, Rev (Canon) (Dr) Ebenezer Owhor as the Assistant Secretary of the Joint Council.
Also, before the commencement of plenary, the women of St. Michael’s Church, Rumuomasi Deanery thrilled delegates to good traditional tunes and dance steps while His Royal Highness Eze( Sir) Raymond Chinda led the chiefs and elders of Rumuomasi community in Oropotoma Kingdom, to appreciate the council for choosing the community to host the meeting.
They solicited for prayers of peace, unity and development from the council.
The meeting ended on Sunday evening while the Archbishops and Bishops worshipped in various churches in the Diocese of Evo.
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