The interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Effiong Okon Akwa, is colluding with the commission’s union to kick against a presidential directive for staff auditing in the agency, insider sources have alleged.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had, two weeks ago, ordered the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to carry out a comprehensive audit of its staffing.

Buhari had explained that the move became necessary to ensure that right staffing and proper placements are achieved.

However, it was gathered that the case of wrong and improper staff placement began when the erstwhile Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio held sway at the ministry before he resigned to contest the APC presidential primaries.

It was further gathered that immediately after the removal of the then acting managing director of NDDC, Daniel Pondei and the subsequent appointment of the current interim Administrator, Effiong Okon Akwa, that the duo (Akpabio and Akwa) began to engage in unethical employments and promotion.

This gave rise to the recommendation by forensic audit report which recommended a total overhaul of the agency.

According to insider source, Senator Akpabio and Akwa flooded NDDC with inexperienced persons who were either casual acquaintances or cronies who had little or no experience for the positions they were given.

“Somebody who was brought in as an aide to the MD, was suddenly converted to an assistant director, finance without any prior experience for the office. This is a position you will need at least 20 years of service to attain.

“A corps member who just finished service was hired and placed on level 10 with no prior job experience.

“Several other instances abound. This is possibly why the interim Administrator will be using the union to fight the directive because it puts him in the line of fire when the searchlight beams on the recruitment process,” an insider told our reporter.

When contacted, another highly placed government personnel said: ” Petitions were received about the unwieldy management structure in NDDC (for example, there are 53 directors as against 12 provided in the Act), irregular promotions, recruitment of staff with fake certificates, irregular and arbitrary placement of newly recruited staff, etc.

“Besides, the personnel audit is a routine administrative tool that is deployed to strengthen the administrative capacity of an organization whether public or private. Mr. President directed that the current exercise should be undertaken.”

A rights groups under the aegis of Transparency, Accountability, Equity and Unity Network, TAEUN, had, in 2021, raised alarm over illegal recruitment into the NDDC, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to  order an investigation and subsequently halt the  secret process.

The pressure group  through its publicity secretary, Aniefiok Ibange, told journalists in Port Harcourt that they are not against recruitment of new staff into the Commission, but such employment  must follow due procedure of recruitment into the Federal Civil Service.

-pointblanknews.com