News
Ndoma-Egba To Onochie: Be Guided By NDDC Act
Former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has advised the current Chairman of the board, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, to be guided by the provisions of the Act that established the commission.
Ndoma-Egba, who gave the advise while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, stated that the NDDC Act provided for the powers of the board and that of the management.
He noted that although the overall powers of managing the Commission resides with the board to provide the policy direction, the management has the responsibility for the implementation of the policies.
The former NDDC Chairman said: “Ordinarily, there shouldn’t be a problem because the powers are clearly defined. But you see, where the problem comes is on the issue of control of funds.
“That is where the issue comes in because the various laws; Fiscal Responsibility Act, and even the NDDC Act, makes the Chief Executive Officer, the accounting officer, and in some cases, liability for infractions of those laws are personal to the Chief Executive.”
Ndoma-Egba noted that the Chief Executive Officer could not spend outside the budget, which must be approved by the board.
He said: “So, all you need do is to exercise the powers that have been given to you in a very creative way that will check the board without necessarily impeding the running of the Commission.
“The chairman is not an executive chairman; so, you cannot say as chairman, I have decreed A, B, C or D. You need the approval of the Board.
“So, I think that what is causing the confusion is a misapprehension of the law establishing the NDDC. Either a misapprehension or it hasn’t been properly read.
“The law does not have any powers attributed to the chairman. The powers of the chairman are the powers of the board and when we started, the first thing the board did was to donate their powers to me as chairman, to act in urgent cases.
“But you always came back to the board for them to ratify what you had done. So as chairman, you don’t have any special powers. The powers of the chairman are coterminous with the powers of the board.
“It is the Managing Director that for instance, is named as the chief accounting officer and by virtue of the extant laws, he is personally liable for the infraction of those laws.”
Ndoma-Egba regretted that the NDDC had not been allowed to grow, thus denying it of an established tradition.
He said: “By now, apart from the law, we should have had an established tradition, because NDDC was established in the year 2000, that is long enough for certain things to be the tradition.
“But there is no board of NDDC that has survived its full term. So those traditions haven’t been established, and then there is too much outside interference.”
The erstwhile NDDC Chairman, recalled that in 2006, the then President Olusegun Obasanjo launched an elaborate regional development Master Plan, generated by Niger Delta stakeholders; state governments, oil companies, development partners and oil-producing communities.
He lamented that the plan, envisaged to last for 15 years was abandoned, leaving the region without a road map. He wondered how the entire Niger Delta region could be developed without a plan.
Ndoma-Egba said: “The starting point was to either revalidate the initial master plan which had a 15-year life span and had expired, or get a new master plan. So, we were in the process of developing that master plan.
“We were already talking with the government of Sao Tome, for them to deploy their excess internet capacity to Niger Delta region because all the trunks that are coming from America and Europe meet in Sao Tome before they are distributed to different parts of Africa.
“Sao Tome, is an Island nation, with about 200,000 people, but the capacity they have is far more than what we have in Nigeria with 220 million people. So, we were in talks with them; in fact, they were willing to even give us their excess capacity plus their telecommunication companies. But it was at that point that the board was abruptly dissolved. We had already gotten approval in principle.”
By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Sokoto state governor, Ahmed Aliyu has reassured that whatever amount spent for the propagation of religion is worthwhile.
The governor who stated this during the official inauguration of Hassan Dan Mu’azu Jumu’at mosque, Runjin sambo area renovated and remodelled by the State Government, added that, he will continue to accord priority to religious propagation.
“”No amount of money spent in the propagation of islam will be viewed as much, and our administration is ever ready to participate actively in such worthy endeavour””, Governor Aliyu enthused
Represented by his deputy, Alhaji Idris Mohammed Gobir, the governor thanked Sokoto’s people for their continued support and prayer for his administration.
A statement by the deputy governor’s spokesperson, Garba Mohammed, had quoted Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko as saying the commendable performances of the governor in less than two years in office has proved all doubting Thomases wrong
Senator Wamakko who is the leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and represents Sokoto north Senatorial district, said the governor has recorded unparalleled performances within two years in office.
According to Wamakko, some wondered and even kicked against the candidature of now governor Ahmed Aliyu saying he was infamous, adding however that, they bluntly forgot that pointing out that, “one with Allah is the majority”.
“”Some people refused to support Ahmed Aliyu’s candidature as they were doubting his capacity to pilot the affairs of the state effectively””.
Continuing, Senator Wamakko further expressed optimism that the state would witness more dividends of democracy under governor Ahmed Aliyu’s leadership, hence, “he has so far proved to be a blessing to the state”.
Wamakko therefore expressed his appreciation to the people of Sokoto state for their continued support and cooperation to the Ahmed Aliyu led adminstration even as appealed to them to keep it up.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
At least 200 students from the Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in Kaduna State have been selected for a scholarship scheme sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
The scholarship initiative was facilitated by the federal lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Daniel Amos, as part of ongoing efforts to promote education and empower youths in the region.
In a statement issued by Amos’ Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Victor Teh Dabo, it was confirmed that the payment process for the scholarship has already commenced.
“The Office of the Member Representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency, Rep. Daniel Amos, is pleased to announce the commencement of payment for the scholarship scheme sponsored by the Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D.,” the statement read.
Dabo also urged all listed beneficiaries to visit the constituency office for clarification or further instructions regarding the disbursement.
Rep. Amos reaffirmed his commitment to youth development, stating that education remains a key priority in his efforts to improve the welfare of constituents in both Jema’a and Sanga.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is facing allegations of racketeering and unscrupulous practices in its selection process for ad hoc staff for the 2025 Hajj operation.
This situation arises shortly after the NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, inaugurated the Principal Officers of the National Medical Team (NMT) and its Steering Committee for the upcoming 2025 Hajj.
The committee’s primary duty is to manage the selection, screening, and orientation of applicants for the national medical team.
The applicants consist of a variety of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics.
Sources reveal that over 30,000 health professionals have applied through the medical team portal, despite NAHCON intending to recruit only 300 medical personnel—a figure considered by observers to be excessive for the 50,000 pilgrims registered for this year’s Hajj.
Experts note that Nigeria’s medical team is set to be larger than those from the 10 largest Hajj countries. In comparison, Pakistan, with 179,210 pilgrims, has just over 100 medical personnel.
This trend extends to Malaysia, Turkey, India, Iran, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.
Insiders indicate that the decision to hire 300 medical professionals under Professor Usman’s leadership has led to allegations of racketeering and clandestine dealings involving certain staff members and external groups, allegedly with the implicit approval of those in high positions.
These groups are reportedly extorting payments from applicants to secure ad hoc staff roles for the 2025 Hajj operation.
One specific group claims to operate with the commission chairman’s tacit approval, charging N200,000 as an application fee along with 40 percent of the applicant’s Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA), approximately $800 based on the 2023 Hajj medical personnel benchmarks.
A woman from Kano, identified as Hajiya Aisha Haske Gama, also known as Jagora, leads one of the racketeering factions. She has created a three-page undertaking form under the name A.M.I Haske Nigeria Limited, requiring applicants to complete it and return it along with two passport photographs.
A copy of the form obtained by this newspaper indicates that applicants must pay a processing fee of N200,000 and agree to relinquish 40 percent of their BTA while in Saudi Arabia.
Our reporters have also acquired an audio recording of Dr. Khalid, a promoter associated with Hajiya Haske’s group, defending their activities and asserting that the racketeering activities have Professor Usman’s backing.
In the audio, Dr. Khalid urged an individual named Abubakar to confirm the legitimacy of Hajiya Aisha Haske’s group with Professor Usman or any staff member in the chairman’s office.
“Go and ask Sheikh Saleh Pakistan (Professor Usman’s nickname). Inquire whether what Hajiya Aisha Haske Gama Jagora is doing is legitimate. He is aware of our arrangement (deal). We are genuine. We aim to assist our people. Our actions are predicated on Sheikh Saleh Pakistan’s presence,” Dr. Khalid stated in Hausa.
Numerous commission staff members have corroborated the ongoing racketeering within the organisation. One official reported being offered a medical team position for N5 million. “It’s true. I was offered a medical doctor’s slot at N5 million,” he asserted.
Observers are worried that nine days to the beginning of the airlift, the medical team members have not been appointed and trained. “This portends a serious challenge for the operation. This is because you need at least a week to verify the certifications of the shortlisted medical personnel from the relevant educational and professional bodies. You need to give them crash programme on the operation,” an insider said.
Each year, the commission recruits numerous ad hoc staff to aid pilgrims during their time in the holy land. Besides the medical team, there are also personnel responsible for the media, ulama, security, stakeholders, and pilgrim assistants, among other roles.
In the 2024 Hajj, the commission sponsored 152 Muslim clerics to the holy land, alongside more than 600 others identified as “stakeholders.”
Despite reduced revenue due to a low pilgrimage turnout, the commission is contemplating sponsoring hundreds of ad hoc officials.
Saudi Arabia has allocated 95,000 Hajj slots for Nigeria in 2025, yet only about 52,000 individuals are expected to embark on the holy pilgrimage—40,000 through state governments and 12,000 via private tour operators.
“The commission lacks an approved budget for these inflated ad hoc staff hires; they plan to source funds from other categories,” one official stated confidentially.
The official criticised the commission leadership for “favouring ad hoc staff who contribute little in the holy land over trained commission personnel capable of fulfilling the tasks needed.”
Investigations have shown that many medical professionals sent to the holy land in the past have remained inactive. This led to the scrapping of many ad hoc staff positions, particularly pilgrim assistants, during Barr. Abdullahi Mukhtar Muhammad’s tenure, according to insiders.
They added that under the leadership of Musa Bello and Barr. Mukhtar, stakeholder slots were restricted to institutional representatives, never exceeding 30 individuals, primarily from government bodies involved in operations in Saudi Arabia. These included representatives from the offices of the SGF, AGF, President, Vice President, NIA, and National Assembly, among others.
However, he noted that nearly 1,000 individuals are transported under the pretence of being stakeholders, asserting that the “stakeholders’ slots are now being sold to the highest bidders.”
Some officials at the commission told our reporters of an ongoing extortion of staff members before they are pencilled for this year’s Hajj.
The staff members pointed an accusing finger to a permanent commissioner who allegedly collects money to include workers names in the 2025 Hajj list.
“It is pathetic. There is no criteria for picking the staff for 2025 Hajj as it used to be. It is clearly a case of extortion and crass nepotism,” one of the staff grumblingly said.
Insiders further revealed that ethnic and sectional considerations are at play in the staff selection of 2025 Hajj officials. “Commissioner PPMF, Aliyu Abdulrazak, is busy enlisting every staff from the South-South, while
Commissioner PRSILS, Professor Abubakar A Yagawal, has been considering staff from Sokoto state. It is that bad,” a staff who spoke in confidence said.
The official said, “it is only Commissioner of Operations, Prince Anofi Elegushi, that is showing semblance of fairness in the entire process. He is the only one that gives listening ears to all staff members irrespective of their state of origin. As I speak to you now he is the only fair-minded among them.”
This newspaper also found that aside the allegations of extortion, the management has also blacklisted some workers.
Further findings revealed that contrary to established tradition, not all management staff are being considered this year — which is generating bad blood in the commission.
“The leaderhip of the commission is handpicking staff without the consultation of their heads of departments as it used to be. We have situations where junior staff are handpicked while the of the department — a level 14 or even directorate cadre are left out,” another official confided on this newspaper.
Another official said traditionally all management and level 14 officials are shortlisted for the operation unless they have pending disciplinary cases.
“Workers facing disciplinary cases are being shortlisted against the standing rules. Others with no single query are not being considered because they are not in the good books of the people in the chairman’s office,” another top official in the commission said.
Staff members also expressed their displeasure over the priority given to those recently pasted to the commission from outside in the allocation of Hajj seats. “Many staff members who didn’t spend up to six months in NAHCON are now picked for the 2025 Hajj, leaving behind traditional staff who are experienced, and have been planning for the exercise for a year,” one of the staff said.
Contrary to the past where the NAHCON advance team travels to Saudi Arabia 10 days to the inaugural flight, the team is yet to travel nine days to the commencement of the airlift. Insiders said they are billed to travel on May 5 — four days to the inaugural flight, which they said is pretty late.
Stakeholders who spoke to this newspaper have renewed their calls for leadership change in the commission, while staff are calling for ICPC, EFCC and DSS to investigate every step of the Hajj preparation they argued is marred by alleged corruption, nepotism and irregularities.