House of Representatives lawmaker has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pick the next NDDC chairman from Delta, calling on him to adhere to Section 4 of the NDDC Act.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Kolade Akinjo (PDP-Ondo) at the plenary on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Akinjo pointed out that there was injustice in the composition of the commission’s board regarding the offices of the chairman, managing director, and the two executive directors.

“Section 2(l) of the NDDC Act, stipulates that the board shall consist of a Chairman, a person who shall be an indigene an oil-producing area to represent each of the member states also the managing director; and two executive directors.

“Also Section 4, of the NDDC Act, 2000 states that the office of the Chairman shall rotate among the member states in alphabetical order, starting with Abia and ending with Rivers.

“Section 12(1) of the Act also stipulates that there shall be for the Commission, a Managing Director and two Executive Directors who shall be indigenes of oil-producing areas starting with (a) member (of) the state with the highest production quantum of oil,” he said.

He added that the law provided that the offices rotate among member states in order of the quantity of oil produced by the states.

“Aware that the recent Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) report ranked Akwa Ibom first, Delta second, Rivers third, Bayelsa fourth, 0ndo fifth, Edo sixth, Imo seventh, Abia eighth, and Cross River ninth in order of quantum.

“Observe that in spite Sections 4 and 12 of the NDDC Act, the positions of the board chairman, Managing Director and the two Executive Directors are solely occupied by Altwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers and Cross River, leaving out Ondo, Imo and Edo.

“Also aware that in the order of quantum of production, Ondo which is fifth, Edo which is sixth and Imo which is seventh are yet to occupy the positions of the managing director and the two Executive Directors,” he said.

Mr Akinjo explained that under sections 4 and 12(1) of the NDDC Act, the offices of the chairman, managing director, and the two executive directors are due to go to the next set of member states in the order of alphabet and quantum of production.

According to him, Delta should produce the next chairman, while Ondo should produce the MD, Edo, the executive director, Finance and Administration, and Imo should produce the executive director, projects.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Ahmed Wase, mandated the committee on NDDC to ensure compliance.