Ibrahim Bakare/Port Harcourt
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has pledged to work hard with the support of staff to meet the expectations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a press statement by Pius Ughakpoteni, Director Corporate Affairs of the Commission said MD who was speaking during an interactive session with management and staff of NDDC at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku thanked President Tinubu for reposing confidence in him by reappointing him as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC.
He stated: “The President has high expectations of us, especially to change the narrative of the NDDC and the Niger Delta region. I assure him that we will not fail. This reappointment gives me a renewed vigour to revamp the NDDC and develop the Niger Delta region.
“I might have the ideas but I also need the input of directors and staff and to bring these ideas to fruition. We would work together to make Mr. President proud.”
The NDDC boss said that he was ready to take on new challenges, stating: “We need to record more successes in this new dispensation. I believe that working together, we can get better results.
“I want to be a servant leader and I need the feathers of NDDC staff to fly to greater heights. I, therefore urge the staff to support my vision for the Niger Delta region.”
Ogbuku paid tribute to members of the dissolved NDDC Board for “sacrificing their time and resources for the good of the Niger Delta region.” He expressed hope that members of the reconstituted Board would equally be committed to serving the people of the region, appealing to NDDC staff to warmly receive the incoming Board and ensure that there were no hiccups.
He said further: “I acknowledge and thank the recently retired Directors for their commitment and sacrifices to ensure that our ideas for development come to fruition. To the staff, I want to assure you that I remain indebted to you as you mean well for me. Thank you for reaching out to me at all times.”
Ogbuku stressed the need for the various directorates in NDDC to work as a team. “I do not want directorates to work in isolation or at cross purposes anymore. Let us try and synchronize our programmes,” he said.
Reacting to a question on what he would like to be remembered for, he said: “I want to be remembered as a good brother, father and husband in the NDDC family. Transparency and accountability are very important to me.”
Speaking on behalf of the staff, the Chairman of NDDC Staff Union, Comrade Anthony Gbendo, applauded the Managing Director for facilitating the approval of the staff conditions of service and urged him not to relent in his good works.