-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA): By Albert OGRAKA:
The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), has said it would collaborate with the state Assembly House Committee on DESOPADEC in driving the process towards the implementation of policies and programmes of the Commission for the common good of the people.
The Managing Director/CEO of the DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh FCNA, CrFA, stated this when he played host to the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on DESOPADEC during a meeting with Board Members of DESOPADEC at Commission’s headquarters in Warri on Friday, November 15, 2019.
Bashorun Askia assured the Committee that the present Board of the Commission is committed to driving the vision of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa through the legal instruments establishing the DESOPADEC.
He disclosed that the Board under his supervisor is presently implementing a paradigm shift in the actualization of the vision and mission of DESOPADEC, in line with the bottom-to-top approach in budget estimation for the oil bearing ethnic nationalities based on production quantum.
Bashorun Askia, who said the present Board on assumption of office has started tackling inherent challenges, including staff verification through biometric clock-in, office accommodation and huge debts owed to contractors, assured that as a truly people based interventionist agency, DESOPADEC is dedicated to ensuring peace, security, abundance, better life and sustainable economic development in the oil producing communities through the provision of basic Infrastructure and human capital development among others.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, House Committee on DESOPADEC, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, who led other members of the Committee on the familiarisation visit, said the success of the Commission is critical to achieving the Stronger Delta vision of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Hon Guwor who represents Warri South West Constituency and his team were received by the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Bashorun Askia Ogieh, alongside other Executive Directors and Board Members representing the various oil bearing ethnic nationalities in the state
Hon Guwor urged members of the DESOPADEC Board to work as a team and avoid rancor to enable them achieve the desired results, even as he tasked the board to also adhere to the law establishing the commission and abide by the financial guidelines as well as the extant rules of the State.
He however applauded the Board for embarking on town hall meetings with the ethnic nationalities as a bottom to top approach to ensure that projects executed have direct impact on the people, adding that the upcoming fiscal year will consolidate on the Board resolve to make DESOPADEC better positioned in delivering on its mandate.
Other members of the Committee at the visit include, Honorables Rueben Izeze, Ferguson Onwo, Matthew Opuoru, Austin Chikezie, Asupa Forteta, Austin Uroye and Charles Emetulu.
