Managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has provided clarity on the issue of the tenure of the current governing board of the commission, stating that the members were appointed for a four-year tenure.

Addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt yesterday, Ogbuku said the insinuations in some quarters that his tenure as the managing director would end this year was false and without any foundation.

He stated that subject to the provision of section 4 of the NDDC Establishment Act, “a member of the board other than ex-efficio member, shall hold office for a term of four years at the first instance and may be reappointed for a further term of four years and no more.”

Ogbuku said that those pushing for the truncation of the tenure of the NDDC Board were not happy that members were working harmoniously to deliver on the mandate of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the people of the Niger Delta region.

The NDDC boss lamented that despite the efforts of the NDDC Board and management to deliver quality projects and programmes, some people with selfish motives were working behind the scenes to return the commission to its days of instability and non-performance.

He stated that nothing would distract the NDDC Board and Management from holding fast to its mantra of transiting from transactions to transformation.

Ogbuku advised those scheming for a change of batons at NDDC to hold their horses as President Tinubu re-appointed him for another term of four years, noting that the region should be ready to see more people-oriented projects and programmes.

He assured that as soon as the 2024 budget of the Commission was signed into law, the on-going efforts to complete legacy projects would gain momentum, pointing out that the plan in the budget was to raise N1 trillion from development and commercial banks for the completion of legacy projects spread across the Niger Delta region.