We did not divert monies for workers’ salaries — NDDC

…insists that all workers have been fully paid

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has declared that it did not divert monies meant for payment of workers’ salaries.

The NDDC in a statement by Pius Ughakpoteni, Director, Corporate Affairs responded to reports of Security workers of the Commission threatening to carry out a peaceful protest over non-payment of their monthly salaries.

According to the NDDC, the Security companies for Delta and Rivers state offices, mentioned in the reports, have been paid up to July as at August 22, 2023.

“We wish to state that the Commission engages Security Companies that hire and pay security guards to work at our various offices to safeguard our facilities. These service providers are certainly not being owed for six months as alleged in the media reports.

“There is no basis for them to owe their workers arrears of salaries, especially as the contract they signed with NDDC has a clause that states that they must have the capacity to pay their staff for at least two months in the event of any delay from the Commission,” the statement explained.

The Commission went on further to urge the security workers to disabuse their minds of the misinformation in the media.

The Commission also challenged any member of the public who has any evidence of such practices to reach out for prompt action.

On the intended protest by some Niger Delta indigenes, the Commission noted that it is not tenable stating that genuine stakeholders in the Niger delta region have embraced peaceful engagements since the emergence of the Dr Samuel Ogbuku-led management team.

“It is noteworthy that within a very short period of time, the Management  team has laid the foundation for the rapid economic development of the region and put in place an enduring and sustainable governance structure for the effective operations of the Commission.

“We re-state that entrenching the tenets of accountability and transparency in our activities forms part of the thrust of the new Management.

“We assure our stakeholders and members of the public that the NDDC Management will not be distracted in its resolve to do things differently and make a difference in the Niger Delta,” the statement read.