Maya Smith
Wed, Aug 30, 2023 10:15 AMNiger Delta Development Commission Collaborates with Stakeholders for Sustainable Development
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The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) held a landmark Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Budget Conference at the Ibom Icon Hotel in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. This two-day conference brought together key stakeholders from the government, NDDC budget committee, civil society organizations, TROMPCON, National Assembly members, and other representatives from the nine Niger Delta states.
The conference aimed to facilitate collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among stakeholders for the development of the Niger Delta region. It sought to establish a platform for stakeholder participation in the budget planning and implementation process to achieve sustainable development goals for the region.
Speaking at the conference, the Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of partnering with stakeholders to achieve better outcomes for the region. He highlighted that this collaborative approach represents a fresh start for the Commission, aligning with the original mandate of the NDDC Act.
Chief Ogbuku further stated that the conference would provide a platform for effective budgeting systems in line with the government's "Renewed Hope" project. By pooling resources, eliminating duplications, and reducing wastage, stakeholders can implement projects and programs with far-reaching impact in the Niger Delta communities.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, commended the NDDC for organizing the conference and encouraged the Commission to develop budgets that address the development needs of states and communities in the region. Dr. Belgore emphasized the importance of transparency, stakeholder participation, and right-budgeting as pathways to maximize available resources and address critical needs in the Niger Delta.
The conference led to the issuance of a communique that outlined key resolutions reached by the focal groups representing each Mandate State within the region. These resolutions included:
- Recognizing the strategic importance of the PSD forum in the budgetary process to eliminate duplications, institutional suspicions, and reduce wastage of resources.
- Commending the Executive Management of the NDDC for reviving the PSD Forum.
- Striking a balance between political demands and executing people-centric projects.
- Operating a lean budget cycle to ensure timely completion of projects.
- Covering various ethnic nationalities and communities in the region in the budget.
- Ensuring timely payment of contractors within 45 days to avoid delays and penalties.
- Convening town hall meetings and engaging ethnic nationalities in the budget process directly.
- Removing completed projects from the budget to accommodate new projects.
- Including provisions for flood control measures and IDP camps in the 2024 Budget to mitigate the impact of floods in the region.
- Identifying ongoing projects with significant completion status and utilizing funds from the legacy debt to augment insufficient project funds.
The conference marked a significant milestone in the efforts to promote collaboration, partnership, and synergy among stakeholders in the Niger Delta region. By engaging stakeholders, streamlining budget processes, and leveraging public-private partnerships, the NDDC aims to achieve sustainable development, infrastructure growth, and economic diversification in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Source of content: OOO News 2023-08-30 News
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