Nigeria, July 13, 2015, (Blank NEWS Online) – 
Governor of Nigeria’s oil wealthy Delta state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has formally dissolved the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
The dissolution of the Commission’s Board by the governor was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Festus Ovie Agas on Monday, July 13, 2015.
The statement urged members of the Commission to return government property, including vehicles in their possession, and commended them for their selfless services throughout their tenure.
About ESOPADEC
The Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) was set up in July, 2007, to execute a clear and critical mandate; to rehabilitate, rejuvenate and resuscitate the peoples and communities of the oil producing areas of Delta State. This mandate is stated unequivocally in Section 13 (i) of the enabling law which set up DESOPADEC and states that the Commission shall “receive and administer exclusively the fifty percent (50%) of the thirteen percent (13%) Oil Derivation Fund accruing to the Delta State Government for:
(a) The rehabilitation and development of Oil Producing Areas in the State, and
(b) Other development projects as may be determined from time to time by the Commission.
The composition of the Board of Commission was carried out according to the production quantum of each of the oil producing ethnic nationalities that made up the oil producing area of Delta state and after due consultations with all the major stakeholders in the region, including the Youths, Women, elders and traditional institutions, the action plan of DESOPADEC was then defined in consonance with the 3-Point Agenda of the Administration of His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State which are: Peace and Security, Human Capital Development and Infrastructural Development.
A Bill awaiting the consent of the governor on its composition and structure is currently undergoing amendments in the state House of Assembly.
Although it had retroactive effect from 1st August 2006, under the governorship of Chief James O. Ibori.
A board of DESOPADEC with an executive chairman and commissioners from the oil-bearing ethnic nationalities in the state were subsequently put in place. On July 4, 2007 theDelta State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon.(Dr) Olisa Imegwu passed a resolution calling on Governor EmmanuelUduaghan to dissolve the board over issues of improper membership of commissioners. Later on July 16, 2007 the government re-inaugurated the
board.
ACTIVITIES OF DESOPADEC
The law establishing the Commission in Section 14 empowers it to:
(i) Manage and supervise the affairs of the Commission;
(ii) Enter into contract as may be necessary or expedient for thedischarge of its functions and ensure the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission in accordance with
government financial regulations;
(iii) Establish and maintain such number of departments as it may deem fit for the effective discharge of its functions;
(iv) Pay the staff of the Commission such remunerations andallowances as appropriate;
(v) Make rules and regulations for carrying out the functions of theCommission; and
(vi) Do other such things as are necessary and expedient for the efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.
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