NASS members to choose 25% of commission’s new projects

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says 25 per cent of its new projects are to be chosen by members of the National Assembly (NASS) from the region.

The commission disclosed this in its first quarterly report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The report, which is titled ``The New Face of Progress’’, was signed by the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari.

``For the first time in the history of the NDDC, 25 per cent of the commission’s new projects shall be chosen by National Assembly members from the Niger Delta region.

``As the official representatives of the people of the region, the lawmakers are well placed to guide the commission on its choice of projects based on the people’s needs.

``Another 25 per cent of the new projects shall be based on the choice of other stakeholders from the region,’’ the report said.

It explained that the NDDC would choose the balance 50 per cent of the new projects through consultations with states and communities in the Niger Delta.

``For the first time, letters were written to State Government requesting their input to the budget in line with the Niger Delta Master Plan,’’ it said.

The report highlighted a number of ``strategic human capital development programmes’’ carried out by the commission in the period under review.

The report said the programmes were in the areas of skills acquisition and development, education, healthcare, environment, security, youth and women development, among others.