The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Lauretta Onochie, president Buhari’s Special Assistant on New Media, as the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Onochie and other members of the commission’s board were screened by both the senate and the House of Representatives Committees on Niger Delta on Tuesday.
Onochie’s new appointment comes about 18 months after her nomination as a national commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was rejected by the Senate.
The president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had last week Wednesday, asked the Senate to confirm Onochie’s appointment as substantive chairman of the Board of the NDDC.
This marked the second time Buhari forwarded a list of nominees for the NDDC board for confirmation. He sent the first list of nominees in 2021.
Those in the president’s list include Samuel Ogbokwu, from Bayelsa State, as the Managing Director, who would serve for two years to complete the term of his predecessor in office.
Other members are Dimgba Erugba, representing Abia State, Dr. Emem Willcox Wills ( Akwa Ibom), Denyanbofa Dimaro (Bayelsa State), Hon. Orok Duke (Cross River) and Dr. Pius Odudu ( Edo State).
Others included Engineer Anthony Ekenne (Imo State), Hon. Gbenga Edema (Ondo State), Elekwachi Dimkpa (Rivers State), Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar ( Nasarawa State, representing North-Cenral zone), Alhaji Sadiq Sami Sule – Ikoh ( Kebbi State, North-West) and Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, (Adamawa State, North-East).
The President also nominated Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (retd) from Edo State as the (Executive Director, Finance) and Charles Ogunmola, from Ondo State, as the Executive Director, Projects.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan stated that president Buhari’s decision to send another list was due to flaws in the first list.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
