To address various issues affecting the welfare of states in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria, the National Assembly, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, enacted the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act into law.
The late Senator Chuba Okadigbo and Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba were the Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives then.
The law guiding the three key positions of the commission – Managing Director (MD), Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA) and Executive Director Projects (EDP) – is very clear: the positions must be rotated among the nine states – Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Edo, Imo, Abia and Cross River.
Pitiably, since 2000, this has not been so as the first four states have continued to dominate the key positions.
Some stakeholders, under the aegies of ‘Justice for Niger Delta States’ in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, have kicked against this, insisting that the current board must be dissolved and an Ondo State indigene appointed as the MD of the board President Muhammadu Buhari will constitute soon. To them, this demand is in agreement with Section 12 (1) of the NDDC Act 2000.
According to them: “It is morally and legally right for Ondo State to produce the next Managing Director. Politically, Ondo State contributed immensely to the emergence of the Buhari/Osinbajo administration. It is a fact that it was only in Ondo State, among the nine oil producing states, that the President had a clear victory, in spite of the fact that Governor Olusegun Mimiko was the South-West coordinator for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organisation. This was a no-mean feat achieved by the APC in the state”.
Below is the position of the stakeholders in the letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary respectively, Chief Amos Olaniran and Comrade Ayo Apansile:
1. There is the need for equity and justice in the appointment of the three executive positions in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The positions under consideration include the Managing Director (MD), the Executive Director, Finance and Administration (EDFA), and the Executive Director Projects (EDP).
1.The States of Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa that have hitherto monopolized the executive positions in the Commission and rotate it among themselves should not be allowed to have any of the positions in the coming board.
2. Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act, 2000 enjoins the rotation of the three executive positions among the nine member states, in accordance with the quantum of oil production.
3.Ondo, Edo and Imo States should be considered for the positions of the MD, EDFA and EDP respectively in the next board. This should serve as a reward for their loyalty to the party and promotes spread among the three geo-political zones that make up the Niger Delta.
4.It is expedient that the current board of the NDDC be dissolved, and the dissolution will assist the APC (as a party) in its drive to make a difference in the Niger Delta area.
5.The right of Mr. President to dissolve the board is not by any means hampered by the provision of Section 5(3) of the NDDC Act 2000.
6.A fresh board of 4-year term is required to be constituted after the dissolution of the current one by Mr. President, with a charge to ensure sustainable development in the Niger Delta Region.
7.NDDC does not fall within the category of such bodies (like the INEC, NPC, PSC, etc) that enjoy constitutional protection, as provided for in section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Rather, it is a creation of the Act of Parliament.
8.While the NDDC Act, 2000 provides for a representative for each of the nine oil producing states, the MD, EDFA and EDP represent the President, and are saddled with the responsibility to ensure the development of the oil region.
9. It is equitable for the South-West and South-East geo-political zones to strive to support states within their zones to produce some of the executive positions.
The joy of the Niger Delta people knew no bounds when in year 2000, the National Assembly enacted the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act into law. The 31-section Act amply addresses various issues bothering the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Prior to the enactment of this Act, exploration of oil mineral, with its attendant ecological problems, environmental degradation, pollution and oil spillage, was erroneously adjudged as a curse by the people who felt neglected, and exploited. The Commission has somewhat brought some measure of succour in place of anguish.
However, the lopsidedness in the appointment of the top management members of the Commission since its establishment 15 years ago has today become a worrisome issue among the member states. There is currently a sharp division between states that mischievously referred to themselves as ‘the Big Four’ on the one hand and the other five that are degraded as the ‘tea-spoon oil producers’. It is this schism that has led to the appropriation of the three top management positions by Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States since the inception of the Commission. The other five states, namely, Ondo, Edo, Imo, Abia and Cross River, have now vowed to resist and reject this deprivation. The under-mentioned data reveals the lopsidedness being perpetrated in the appointment of the Managing Director, the Executive Director Finance and Administration and the Executive Director Projects in the commission.
DELTA STATE: It is on record that Delta State has produced two Managing Directors and an Acting Managing Director of the Commission. They include Engr. Godwin Omene, Hon. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo and Pastor Power Aginighan respectively. The same Delta during the second and third governing Boards held on to the position of the Executive Director, Finance and Administration. Pastor Power Aginighan served for a period of 6 years while Mr. Lambert Koboye completed the remaining two years. The state again maneuvered the presidency and fielded Engr. Omasuli Tuoyo as the Executive Director Projects in the fourth board.
RIVERS STATE: The headquarters of the Commission is sited in Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt. The State produced the Executive Director Projects in Engr. Beniah Ojum, during the second governing Board of the Commission. The State also produced the Managing Director of the commission during the third governing Board, a position held by Mr. Chibuzor Ugwuoha who was later succeeded by Dr. Chris Oboh. Like Delta State, Rivers has equally produced the Executive Director, Finance and Administration in Mr. Henry Ogiri in the fourth governing Board.
BAYELSA STATE: The pioneer Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Commission was Mr. Timi Alaibe, from Bayelsa. When Hon. (now Senator) Emmanuel Agwariavwodo resigned as the Managing Director of the Commission, Mr. Timi Alaibe was quickly drafted in to pilot the affairs of the Commission as the MD during the life of the second governing Board.
AKWA IBOM: Engr. Udoh Mbosoh was the first Executive Director Projects of the Commission. He was succeeded by Engr. Ukot Thomas Ukot. During the third governing Board, Arch. Esoetok Etteh was again appointed as the Executive Director Projects of the Commission. The dissolution of the third board led to the appointment of Engr. Edikan Eshiet as another EDP from Akwa Ibom. The Managing Director’s position was again allotted to Akwa Ibom during the fourth governing Board, when Barr. Bassey Dan-Abia, a one-time Ag. Chairman of the board, became the Chief Executive Officer.
The above data analysis incontrovertibly reveals the oppression, injustice, and marginalization of the remaining five states. The general belief and expectations were that the degradation and oppression suffered by the oil producing states in Nigeria would be addressed, both in the provision of infrastructure and the management of the joint inheritance of the Niger Delta people: this, regrettably, seems to have eluded the Commission.
JUSTIFICATION FOR ROTATION
The clamour among the remaining five states is that the positions of the Managing Director, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration and the Executive Director Projects should be produced by Ondo, Edo, and Imo states respectively in the new Board the Buhari’s administration will constitute in due course. This demand is in agreement with Section 12(1) of the NDDC Act 2000. The section provides:
“There shall be for the Commission a Managing Director , and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and SHALL ROTATE amongst member states in order of production, . . . .” (the capitalized words are mine:-meant for emphasis)
The law envisages that all the member states shall have the opportunity to hold the positions of the MD and the EDs at one point or the other. It is submitted that once a member state with higher quantum of oil production holds an executive position, same should be vacated for the next state notwithstanding the duration of the tenure. The situations arose in the cases of Senator Emmanuel Edesiri Aguariavwodo and Mr. Timi Alaibe. The position of MD did not go back to Delta State after the resignation of Aguariavwodo. In the same vein, Mr. Alaibe (Bayelsa State) who merely completed Hon. Aguariavwodo’s second term as the Managing Director was not allowed to continue as the MD in the third Board. Instead it was recorded for Bayelsa State as having served in that capacity notwithstanding the length of time. The position was assigned to Rivers State. These precedents nullify such argument that a state must ‘compulsorily’ spend four years on an executive position. The argument that Akwa-Ibom must complete its “term” is both fallacious and unfounded. The current situation in which Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa states tenaciously hold to the three top management positions is a clear breach of the provision of the NDDC Act, 2000. The time to correct this imbalance is NOW!
ONDO STATE: This State occupies the fifth position among the member states of the Commission. It is obvious that the first four states have produced candidates for the executive positions since inception of the Commission. It is morally and legally right for Ondo State to produce the next Managing Director. Politically, Ondo State contributed immensely to the emergence of Buhari/Osinbajo administration. It is a fact that it was only in Ondo State, among the nine oil producing states, that the President had a clear victory, in spite the fact that Governor Olusegun Mimiko was the South West coordinator for former president Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Organization. This was a no-mean feat achieved by the APC in the state.
Allotting the position of Managing Director of NDDC to Ondo State would be a deserving compensation for the state’s efforts at the polls; aside from the fact that the state is morally and legally qualified for the position NOW!
EDO STATE: This state’s production trails that of Ondo State in the order of quantum of production. It is therefore expected that her demand for the EDP is justifiable and in line with the NDDC Act. To reason otherwise might be interpreted to mean an extension of the injustice that has so far been meted to the peaceful state. Edo State, like Ondo, also worked for the victory of Mr. President at the polls. Geo-politically, Edo state is classified as one of the South-South states, yet the ‘the Big Four’ has not seen her as one of them. Therefore, rewarding the State with this position will definitely promote justice and harmony within the region.
IMO STATE: The principle applicable to Ondo and Edo states applies mutatis mutandis to Imo State. The state is expected to field a candidate for the position of the Executive Director, Finance and Administration. Imo is one of the five states that have so far been consistently marginalized in the last 15 years of the existence of the Commission. Imo has neither tasted any of the three top management positions nor the chairmanship of the Commission.
Providentially, these three states (Ondo, Edo and Imo) represent the three geopolitical zones of the Niger Delta region. To field candidates from these three states to occupy the 3 top management positions in NDDC accords with good reasoning, equity and justice. The remaining two states, (namely Abia and Cross-River) will have their hopes kept alive for the next four years with the assurance that their turns will definitely come.
DISSOLUTION OF THE CURRENT BOARD.
It has been erroneously canvassed that any attempt to dissolve the present board runs contrary to the provisions and intendment of the NDDC Act, 2000. Proponents of this view have said that any dissolution at this time will not give room for continuity. Further arguments have also been adduced to the effect that should the President be minded to dissolve the board, he should still choose the three (3) top management members from the states that are currently occupying the positions. The school of thought has said that Akwa-Ibom, Delta and Rivers states should be “allowed to complete their tenure”.
It is submitted that the above arguments are puerile and without any foundations in the light of the under-mentioned:
a.Unlike statutory bodies such as National Population Commission, National Judicial Commission, INEC, etc, which enjoy constitutional protection, NDDC does not. It is a creation of an act of parliament like NNPC, NPA, ETF, NIMASA etc. Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) lists 14 bodies that are constitutionally provided for: NDDC is not one of them.
b.The APC led government has her mandate for four years. It cannot afford to put in place a board which will not assist the government for the unbroken period of the four years.
c.This administration will be seriously hampered in its drive to develop the Niger Delta region if it dissolves the present board and chooses people to “complete their tenure”. The next board to be constituted will only be a “learning board for two years” before it is dissolved again! The APC administration does not have that luxury of time to be wasted.
It has been argued that in line with section 5 (3) of the NDDC Act, 2000, ‘where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor, so however, that the successor shall represent the same interest…’.It is submitted with the greatest respect that this section deals with filling of a membership vacancy. It has nothing to do with the dissolution of the Board. Once the board is dissolved, the issue of filling a membership vacancy does not arise. The only applicable rule is the constitution of a fresh board!It is therefore illogical and inappropriate to dissolve the present NDDC Board and proceed to appoint people to complete the tenure of the sacked members. To reason along this line is akin to reading the NDDC Act, 2000 upside down. The filling of vacancy will only be applicable if the life of the Board is still extant.
It must be noted, however, that where a fresh board is put in place, each of the nine (9) member states is entitled by law to nominate a representative each. Section 2 (1) (a & b) of the NDDC Act 2000 provides:
“There is hereby established for the Commission a governing Board (in this Act referred to as (“the Board”),which shall consist of:
a) a Chairman
b)One person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the following member states, that is, (i) Abia State, (ii) Akwa-Ibom State, (iii) Bayelsa State, (iv) Cross River State, (v) Delta State,(vi) Edo State, (vii) Imo State, (viii) Ondo State, and (ix) Rivers State;…”
It is crystal clear from the wordings of this section that each state will have a representative at anytime on the governing Board of the NDDC. It is only the positions of the Chairman (which must rotate alphabetically- section 4 of the Act) and the Managing Director with the two (2) Executive Directors (which must rotate in order of production starting from the state with highest production quantum-section 12 (1) of the Act) that will not go round all the states in a given board. Although, any of the four positions referred to above will be selected by Mr. President from a state at any given time, such a person however is “not the representative of the state where he comes from”. He is the “eye” of the President on the board with a view to ensure sustainable development to the region.
As pointed out earlier, at the inception of the Commission, it was argued that Delta State had the highest production quantum among the member states; and this explains why Delta State produced the first Managing Director. In the last 15 years, each of the four leading oil producing states of Delta, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa has produced the Managing Director and the Executive Directors; rotating the positions among themselves to the detriment of the other states.
It is indisputable that Ondo State is next on line, according to the quantum of oil production among the nine states. Although the nine states that make up the Commission spread across three geo-political zones, only the four aforementioned states in the South-South have consistently produced the top management members of the Commission. They have thus far monopolized the three top executive positions to the detriment of the other member states. It is expected and hoped that the APC led administration shall, as a matter of urgency, redress the injustice that had hitherto been meted to the other five states.
What is more, it is high time the South West and the South East stood up for the member states that are within their zones. It is anticipated, that the massive support South West geo-political zone in particular gave to the APC during the last presidential election places her over and above the other two zones in demanding for the position of the Managing Director for Ondo State. In the same vein, Edo and Imo States which also contributed to the success of the party should be compensated with the positions of Executive Director, Projects and Executive Director, Finance and Administration respectively. The labourer is entitled to his wages.
Niger-Delta Development Commission (Establishment etc) Act
2000 Act No 6
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
Arrangement of Sections
Part I
Establishment, Etc of The Niger-Delta Commission and the Governing Board
1.
Establishment of the Niger-Delta Development Commission, etc.
2.
Establishment of the Governing Board of the Commission.
3.
Tenure of office of Board members.
4.
Rotation of office of Chairman of the Commission.
5.
Cessation of membership of the Board etc.
Part II
Functions and Powers of the Commission, Etc.
6.
Allowances of members.
7.
Functions and powers of the Commission.
8.
Powers of the, Board
Part III
Structure of the Commission
9.
Establishment of Directorates.
10.
Establishment of the Management Committee.
11.
Establishment of the Niger-Delta Development Advisory Committee.
Part IV
Staff
12.
Appointment of Managing Director, etc.
13.
Service in the Commission to be pensionable.
Part V
Financial Provisions
14.
Fund of the Commission.
15.
Expenditure
16.
Gifts to the Commission
17.
Powers to borrow.
18.
Annual estimates and expenditure.
19.
Quarterly report.
20.
Annual report.
Part VI
Miscellaneous
21.
Establishment of Monitoring Committee.
22.
Offices and premises of the Commission.
23.
Directives by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
24.
Limitation of suit against the Commission, etc.
25.
Service of documents.
26.
Restriction on execution against property of the Commission.
27.
Indemnity of officers.
28.
Repeal of 1998 No.41, and savings provision, etc.
29.
Regulations.
30.
Interpretation
31.
Citation.
Niger-Delta Development Commission (Establishment etc) Act
2000 Act No 6
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
An Act to provide for the repeal of the Oil, Mineral Producing Areas Commission Decree 1998, and among other things, establish a new Commission with a re-organised management and administrative structure for more effectiveness; and for the use of the sums received from the allocation of the Federation Account for tackling ecological problems which arise from the exploration of oil minerals in the Niger-Delta area and for connected purposes
12th day of July 2000
Enacted by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Part I
Establishment, Etc of The Niger-Delta Commission and the Governing Board
1. (1) There is hereby established a body to be known as Niger-Delta Development Commission (in this Act referred to as “the Commission”).
(2) The Commission-
(a) shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal;
(b) may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(3) The Commission shall have its head office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and shall establish an office in each member state of the Commission.
2. (1) There is hereby established for the Commission a governing Board (in this Act referred to as “the Board”), which shall consist of-
(a) a Chairman;
(b) one person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the following member States, that is,
(i) Abia State,
(ii) Akwa-lbom State,
(iii) Bayelsa State,
(iv) Cross River State,
(v) Delta State,
(vi) Edo State,
(vii) Imo State,
(viii) Ondo State, and
(ix) Rivers State;
(c) three persons to represent non-Oil mineral producing States provided that such membership should be drawn from the remaining geo-political zones which are not represented in the Commission;
(d) One representative of Oil producing companies in the Niger- Delta nominated by the Oil producing companies;
(e) one person to represent the Federal Ministry of Finance;
(f) one person to represent Federal Ministry of Environment
(g) the managing Director of the Commission
(h) two executive Directors
(2) The Chairman and other members-of the Board shall-
(a) be appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, in consultation with the House of Representatives.
(b) be persons of proven integrity and ability.
(3) The members of the Board referred to in paragraph (a – f) of sub-section (1) of this section shall be part-time members
(4) The supplementary provisions set out in the Schedule to this Act shall have effect with respect to the proceedings of the Board and the other matters contained therein.
3. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 4 of this Act a member of the Board, other than an ex-officio member, shall hold office for a term of 4 years at the first instance and may be re-appointed for a further term of 4 years and no more
(2) A member of the Board other than ex-officio member, may resign his appointment by notice, in writing under his hand addressed to the President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, which resignation shall take effect only upon receipt by the President, Commander-in-Chief.
4. The office of the Chairman shall rotate amongst the member states of the Commission in the following alphabetical order.
(a) Abia State;
(b) Akwa-Ibom State;
(c) Bayelsa State;
(d) Cross-River State;
(e) Delta State;
(f) Edo State;
(g) Imo State;
(h) Ondo State; and
(i) Rivers State,
5. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of this Act, a person shall cease to hold office as a member of the Board if-
(a) he becomes bankrupt, suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or
(b) he is convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty or fraud, or
(c) he becomes of unsound mind, or incapable of carrying out his duties; or
(d) he is guilty of a serious misconduct in relation to his duties; or
(e) in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he is disqualified or suspended, other than at his own request, from practising his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority made in respect of that member: or
(f) he resigns his appointment by a letter addressed to the President, Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
(3) Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board it shall be filled by the appointment of a successor to hold office for the remainder of the term of office of his predecessor, so however, that the successor shall represent the same interest and shall be appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces subject to the confirmation of the Senate in consultation with the House of representatives.
6. There shall be paid to every member of the Board such remunerations, allowances and expenses as the Federal Government may, from time to time, direct.
Part II
Functions and Powers of the Commission, Etc.
7. (1) The Commission shall-
(a) formulate policies and guidelines for the development of the Niger- Delta, area,
(b) conceive, plan and implement, in accordance with set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of tie Niger-Delta area in the field of transportation including roads, jetties and waterways, health, education, employment, industrialization, agriculture and fisheries, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications;
(c) cause the Niger-Delta area to be surveyed in order to ascertain measures which are necessary to promote its physical and socio- economic development,
(d) prepare master plans and schemes designed to promote the physical development of the Niger-Delta area and the estimates of the costs of implementing such master plans and schemes;
(e) implement all the measures approved for the development of the Niger- Delta area by the Federal Government and the member States of the Commission;
(f) identify factors inhibiting the development of the Niger-Delta area and assist the member States in the formulation and implementation of policies to ensure sound and efficient management of the resources of the Niger-Delta area,
(g) assess and report on any project being funded or carried out in the Niger-Delta area by oil and gas producing companies and any other company including non-governmental organisations and ensure that funds released for such projects are properly utilised;
(h) tackle ecological and environmental problems that arise from the exploration of oil mineral in the Niger-Delta area and advise the Federal Government and the member States on the prevention and control of oil spillages gas flaring and environmental pollution-,
(i) liaise with the various oil mineral and gas prospecting and producing companies on all matters of pollution prevention and control.
(j) execute such other works and perform such other functions which in the opinion of the Commission, are required for the sustainable development of the Niger- Delta area and its peoples; and
(2) In excising its functions and powers under this section, the Commission shall have regard to the varied and specific contributions of each member State of the Commission.
(3) The Commission shall be subject to the direction, control or supervision in the performance of its functions under this Act by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
8. The Board shall have power to:-
(a) manage and supervise affairs of the Commission;
(b) make rules and regulations for carrying out the functions of the Commission
(c) enter and inspect premises, projects and such places as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out its functions under this Act.
(d) pay the staff of the Commission such remuneration and allowances as appropriate.
(e) enter into such contracts as may be necessary or expedient for the discharge of its functions and ensure the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission,
(f) do such other things as are necessary and expedient for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission,
Part III
Structure of the Commission
9. (1) There shall be established in the head office of the Commission, the following Directorates-
(a) the Directorate of Administration and Human Resources,
(b) the Directorate of Community and Rural Development,
(c) the Directorate of Utilities Infrastructural Development and Waterways,
(d) the Directorate of Environmental Protection and Control,
(e) the Directorate of Finance and Supply;
(f) the Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries
(g) the Directorate of Planning, Research, Statistics and Management Information System;
(h) the Directorate of Legal Services
(i) the Directorate of Education, Health and Social Services;
(j) the Directorate of Commercial and Industrial Development, and
(k) the Directorate of Projects Monitoring and Supervision.
(2) The Board may with the approval of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria increase the number of directorates as it may deem necessary and expedient to facilitate the realisation of the objectives of the Commission.
10. There shall be for the Commission a Management Committee which shall-
(a) consist of a Chairman who shall be the Managing Director, two Executive Directors, the Directors responsible for the Directorates established under section 9 of this Act and such number of other members as may be determined from time to time by the Board.
(b) be responsible to the Board for the general administration of the Commission.
11. (1) There is hereby established for the Commission, a Niger-Delta Development Advisory Committee (in this Act referred to as “the Advisory Committee”) which shall consist of-
(a) the Governors of the member States of the Commission; and
(b) two other persons as may be determined, from time to time, by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
(2) The Advisory Committee shall be charged with the responsibility of advising the Board and monitoring the activities of the Commission, with a view to achieving the objective of the Commission.
(3) The Advisory Committee may make rules regulating its own proceedings.
Part IV
Staff
12. (1) There shall be for the Commission, a Managing Director, and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil producing areas starting with the member states of the Commission with the highest production quantum of oil and shall rotate amongst member states in the order of production.
(a) have such qualification and experience as are appropriate for a person required to perform the functions of those offices under this Act; and
(b) the Managing Director shall be the chief executive and accounting officer of the Commission.
(c) be appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and confirmed by the Senate in consultation with House of Representatives.
(d) hold office on such terms and conditions as to emolument, conditions of service as may be specified in his letter of appointment and subject to the provision of section 3 of this Act.
(2) The Managing Director shall, subject to the general direction of the Board, be responsible-
(a) for the day to day administration of the Commission;
(b) for keeping the books and Proper records of the proceedings of the Board, and
(c) for –
(i) the administration of the secretariat of the Board, and
(ii) the general direction and control of all other employees of the Commission
(3) The Board shall have power to –
(a) employ either directly or on secondment from any civil or public service in ‘the Federation or a State such number of employees as may in the opinion of the Board, be required to assist the Board in the discharge of any of its functions under this Act; and
(b) pay to persons so employed such remuneration (including allowances) as the Board may determine.
13. (1) Service in the Commission shall be approved service for the purposes of the Pensions Act.
(2) The officers and other persons employed in the Commission shall be entitled to pensions, gratuities and other retirement benefits as are enjoyed by persons holding equivalent grades as appropriate.
(3) Nothing in subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall prevent the appointment of a person to any office on terms which preclude the grant of pension and gratuity in respect of that office
(4) For the purposes of the application of the provisions of the Pensions Act, any power exercisable thereunder by the Minister or other authority of the Government of the Federation, other than the power to make regulations under section 23 thereof. is hereby vested in and shall be exercisable by the Commission, and not by any other person or authority.
Part V
Financial Provisions
14. (1) The Commission shall establish and maintain a fund from which shall be defrayed all expenditure incurred by the Commission.
(2) There shall be paid and credited to the fund established pursuant to subsection (1) of this section-
(a) from the Federal Government, the equivalent of 15 percent of the total monthly statutory allocations due to member States of the Commission from the Federation Account; this being the contribution of the, Federal Government to the Commission-
(b) 3 percent of the total annual budget of any oil producing company operating, on shore and off shore, in the Niger-Delta Area; including gas processing companies;
(c) 50 percent of monies due to member States of the Commission from the Ecological Fund,
(d) such monies as may from time to time, be granted or lent to or deposited with the Commission by the Federal or a State Government, any other body or institution whether local or foreign;
(e) all moneys raised for the purposes of the Commission by way of gifts, loan, grants-in-aid, testamentary disposition or otherwise; and
(f) proceeds from all other assets that may, from time to time, accrue to the Commission.
(3) The fund shall be managed in accordance with the rules made by the Board, and without prejudice to the generality of the power to make rules under this subsection, the rules shall in particular contain provisions-
(a) specifying the manner in which the assets or the fund of the Commission are to be held, and regulating the making of payments’ into and out of the fund; and
(b) requiring the keeping of proper accounts and records for the purpose of the fund in such form as may be specified in the rules.
15. The Commission shall apply the proceeds of the fund established pursuant to section 14 of this Act to-
(a) the cost of administration of the Commission,
(b) the payment of salaries, fees, remuneration, allowances, pensions and gratuities payable to the members of the Board specified in section 6 of this Act or any committee of the Board and the employees of the Commission;
(c) the payment for all contracts, including mobilisation, fluctuations, variations, legal fees and cost on contract administration,
(d) the payment for all purchases; and
(e) undertaking such other activities as are connected with all or any of the Functions of the Commission under this Act.
16. (1) The Commission may accept gifts of land money, or other property on such terms and conditions, if any, as may be specified by the person or organisation making the gift.
(2) The Commission shall not accept any gift if the conditions attached by the person or organisation making the gift are inconsistent with, the functions of the Commission under this Act.
17. The Commission may, with the consent of the President, Commander- in-Chief of the Armed Forces, borrow, on such terms and conditions as the Commission may determine, such sums of money as the Commission may require in the exercise of its functions under this Act.
18. (1) The Board shall, not later than 30th September in each year, submit to the National Assembly through the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces an estimate of the expenditure and income of the Commission during the next succeeding year for approval.
(2) The Board shall cause to be kept proper accounts of the Commission in respect of each year and proper records in relation thereto and shall cause the accounts to be audited not later than 6 months after the end of each year by auditors appointed from the list and in accordance with the guidelines supplied by the Auditor-General for the Federation.
19. The Commission shall, at the end of every quarter in each year, submit to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria report on the activities and administration of the Commission.
20. (1) The Board shall prepare and submit to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not later than 30th June in each year, a report in such form as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces may direct on the activities of the Commission during the immediately preceding year, and shall include in the report a copy of the audited accounts of the Commission for that year and the auditor’s report thereon.
(2) The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces shall, upon receipt of the report referred to in subsection (1) of this section, cause a copy of the report and the audited accounts of the Commission and the auditor’s report thereon to be submitted to each House of the National Assembly.
Part VI
Miscellaneous
21. (1) There is hereby established for the Commission a Monitoring Committee which shall consist of such number of persons as the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces may deem fit to appoint from the public or civil service of the Federation.
(2) The Monitoring Commission shall-
(a) monitor the management of the funds of the Commission and the implementation of the projects of the Commission and
(b) have access to the books of account and other records of the Commission at all times, and submit periodical reports to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
22. (1) For the purposes of providing offices and premises necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act, the Commission may, subject to the Land Use Act-
(a) purchase or take on lease any interest in land, or other property; and
(b) construct offices and premises and equip and maintain same.
(2) The Commission may, subject to the Land Use Act, sell or lease out any office or premises held by it, which office or premises is no longer required for the performance of its functions under this Act.
23. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces may give to the Commission directives of a general nature or relating generally to matters of Policy with regard to the performance by the Commission of its functions and it shall be the duty of the Commission to comply with the directives.
24. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the Public Officers Protection Act shall apply in relation to any suit instituted against any officer or employee of the Commission.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or enactment, no suit shall lie against any member of the Board, the Managing Director or any other officer or employee of the Commission for any act done in pursuance or execution of this Act or any other law or enactment, or of any public duty or authority or in respect of any alleged neglect or default in the execution of this Act or such law or enactment, duty or authority, shall lie or be instituted in any court unless –
(a) it is commenced within three months next after the act, neglect or default complained of; or
(b) in the case of a continuation of damage or injury, within six months next after the ceasing thereof.
25. A notice, summons or other document required or authorised to be served upon the Commission under the provisions of this Act or any other law or enactment may be served by delivering it to the Managing Director or by sending it by registered post and addressed to the Managing Director at the principal office of the Commission.
26. (1) In any action or suit against the Commission, no execution or attachment of process in the nature thereof shall be issued against the Commission
(2) Any sum of money which may by the judgment of any court be awarded against the Commission shall, subject to any direction given by court where notice of appeal of the said judgment has been given, be paid from the general reserve fund of the Commission.
27. A member of the Board the Managing Director, any officer or employee of the Commission shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Commission against any proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment Is given in his favour or in which he is acquitted, if any such proceeding is brought against him in his capacity as a member of the Board, the Managing Director, officer or employee of the Commission.
28. (1) The Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission Decree 1998 is hereby repealed and accordingly the Commission established under that Decree (in this section referred to as “the dissolved Commission”) is consequentially dissolved.
(2) By virtue of this Act, there shall be vested in the Commission immediately at the commencement of this Act, without further assurance, all assets, funds, resources and other movable and immovable property which immediately before the commencement of this Act were vested in the dissolved Commission.
(3) As from the date of the commencement of this Act, all rights, interests, obligations and liabilities of the dissolved Commission existing before the commencement of this Act under any contract or instrument or in law or equity, shall by virtue of this Act be assigned to and vested in the Winding- up Committee to be established and funded by the Federal Government to verify and settle outstanding debt of the dissolved Commission.
(4) Any proceedings or cause of action pending or existing immediately before the commencement of this Act by or against the dissolved Commission in respect of any right, interest, obligation or liability of the dissolved commission may be commenced or continued, as the case may be, and any determination of any court of law, tribunal or other authority or person may be enforced by or against the Commission to the same extent that the proceedings, cause of action or determination might have been continued, commenced or enforced by or against the dissolved Commission as if this Act had not been made.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Act but subject to such directions as may be issued by the Commission, a person who immediately before the commencement of this Act held office in the dissolved Commission shall be deemed to have been transferred to the Commission on terms and conditions not less favourable that those obtaining immediately before the commencement of this Act, and service in the dissolved Commission shall be deemed to be service in the Commission for purposes of pension.
(6) The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, if he thinks fit, may, within twelve months after the commencement of this Act, by order published in the Gazette, make additional transitional or saving provisions for the better carrying out of the objectives of this section.
29. The Commission may, with the approval of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, make regulations, generally for the purposes of giving full effect to this Act.
30. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
“Chairman” means the Chairman of the Board;
“Commission” means the Niger-Delta Development Commission established by section I of this Act;
“Board” means the governing Board established for the Commission under section 2 (1) of this Act;
“member”‘ means a member of the Board and includes the Chairman, Managing Director and Executive Directors
“member States” include Abia, Akwa-lbom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, Rivers States and any other
oil producing State.
“Oil” means oil and gas.
31. This Act may be cited as the Niger-Delta Development Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act 2000.
Schedule
Section 2(4)
Supplementary Provisions Relating to the Board, Etc.
Proceedings of the Board
1. (1) Subject to this Act and section 27 of the Interpretation Act, the Board may make standing orders regulating its proceedings or those of any of its committees.
(2) The quorum of the Board shall be the Chairman :)r the person presiding at the meeting, Managing Director or one Executive Director and one third of other members of the Board. The quorum of any Committee of the Commission shall be as determined by the Board.
2. (1) The Board shall meet whenever it is summoned by the Chairman and if the Chairman is required to do so by notice given to him by not less than 4 other members, he shall summon a meeting of the Board to be held within 14 days from the date on which the notice is given.
(2) At any meeting of the Board the Chairman shall preside but if he is absent, the members present at the meeting shall appoint one of their member to preside at the meeting.
3. (1) The Board may appoint one or more committees to carry out, on behalf of the Board such functions as the Board may determine.
(2) A committee appointed under this paragraph shall consist of such number of persons as may be determined by the Board and a person shall hold office on the committee in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
(3) A decision of a committee of the Board shall be of no effect until it is confirmed by the Board.
4. (1) The fixing of the seal of the Commission shall be authenticated by the signatures of the Chairman or any other member of the Board generally or specifically authorised by the Board to act for that purpose and the Managing Director.
(2) A document purporting to be a document duly executed under the seal of the Commission shall be received in evidence and shall, unless and until the contrary is proved be presumed to be so executed.
5. The validity of any proceedings of the Board or of a committee shall not be adversely affected by-
(a) a vacancy in the membership of the Board or committee; or
(b) a defect in the appointment of a member of the Board or committee; or
(c) reason that a person not entitled to do so took part in the proceedings of the Board or committee.
Date passed by Senate
Date passed by House of Representatives
6th day of June 2000
1st day of June 2000
I certify that this Act has been carefully compared by me with the decision reached by the National Assembly and found by me to be true and correct decision of the Houses and is in accordance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act of 1961
Ibrahim Salim. CON
Clerk to the National Assembly
15thday of August 2000
I certify that this Bill as duly passed has become an Act of the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of Section 58(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Endorsed by
Senator Chuba Okadigbo
Senate President
12th day of July 2000
Ghali Umar Na’ Abba
Speaker of the House of Representatives
11th day of July 2000
