Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for developing a budgetary process that involves stakeholders in its efforts to develop the Niger Delta region.
Belgore made this known at the NDDC Partners for Sustainable Development Forum/NDDC 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the Commission is evolving and adopting a budgetary process that is in tandem with the provisions of extant laws.
Represented by the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics in the Ministry, Alfred Abah, the Permanent Secretary applauded NDDC for assembling critical stakeholders to prepare the 2024 budget.
He commended the current management of the NDDC for reviving the PSD Forum, “which has not happened in a long while, and it is the first, since the ministry started supervising the Commission.
Belgore said that the way forward was to embrace robust and innovative pathways anchored on transparency and stakeholder participation towards right-budgeting, thus maximizing the available resources to address the most critical needs of the people.
He observed: “As the supervising Ministry, charged with the responsibility of coordinating the overall developmental efforts and activities in the Niger Delta region, we promise to always provide and avail the Commission all the necessary assistance needed to ensure passage of your annual budgets and consistent flow of statutory contributions from the Federal Government.”
Speaking earlier, the NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, stated that the commission was building partnerships that would ultimately yield better results for the people of the Niger Delta region.
