NDDC Screening: Senate Committee asks Orok Duke to ‘take a bow’

...As Sen. Gershom Bassey noted that he's eminently qualified Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, who have served two terms Deputy Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly has been cleared by the Nigeria Senate as board member of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The enterprising lawmaker was nominated recently by President Muhammadu Buhari to represent Cross River at the board. Recall that the Senate on Tuesday, 13th December 2022 referred to its Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, the request of President Muhammadu Buhari urging it to screen for confirmation, the appointment of the chairman, managing director, executive directors and members of the board of NDDC. The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, asked the committee to carry out the screening exercise and submit its report on Tuesday next week for deliberation and consideration. At the screening session of Duke and other nominees on Thursday, a member of the Committee representating Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State Sen. Gershom Bassey, described the nominee for Cross River as someone who is responsible and has the best interest of his people at heart. According to Sen. Bassey, “I expect that we would consider extending the privileges of this house to him, having been a two-time deputy speaker and having been a four-time member of the House of Assembly; he’s eminently qualified for this work. He’s somebody that is responsible. He’s somebody that has the best interest of his people at heart. I think those are the predominant. And of course he has educational qualifications. “I think having the interest of your people at heart is the primary consideration for the NDDC board. This man qualifies for that so I want to recommend very strongly to you Mr Chairman that he be allowed to take a bow and go.” The Senator Bulus Amos-led Committee concurred with the submission of Senator Gershom and therefore cleared Rt. Hon. Orok Duke for appointment. Other members of the NDDC board nominated for appointment are Mr. Dimgba Erugba, representing Abia State; Dr. Emem Willcox Wills (Akwa Ibom); Mr. Denyanbofa Dimaro (Bayelsa State); Dr. Pius Odudu (Edo State); Mr. Anthony Ekenne, (Imo State); Hon. Gbenga Edema, (Ondo State); Mr. Elekwachi Dimkpa (Rivers State); Mr. Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, (Nasarawa State), representing North-central zone; Mr. Sadiq Sami Sule-Ikoh (Kebbi State) for North-west and Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN), from Adamawa State for North-east. The President also nominated Ms. Lauretta Ifeanyi-Onochie as the substantive Chairman of the board of the NDDC; Mr. Samuel Ogbokwu from Bayelsa State as the Managing Director, while Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) from Edo State as executive director for Finance) and Mr. Charles Ogunmola from Ondo State as the executive director for Projects.

Comments

UNICROSS Announces 2026/2027 Post-UTME Screening, Introduces 19 New Programmes

The University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has officially announced the commencement of its First Choice Admission Screening Exercise for the 2026/2027 academic session . The university has also unveiled 19 newly approved undergraduate academic programmes across its campuses. According to an official notice signed by the University Registrar, Dr. (Mrs) Catherine Ndifon Osai, eligible candidates include UTME applicants who chose UNICROSS as their First Choice and scored 150 and above in the 2026 UTME. Candidates who did not initially choose the university as their first choice can also apply by changing their institution to UNICROSS via the JAMB portal . Newly Approved Programmes & Campus Locations Prospective students are advised to note the campus locations where their chosen courses are domiciled before registering: Calabar Campus 1. Faculty of Architecture Department of Architecture , Department of Interior Architecture Design, Department of Landscape Archi...

Health Policy Takes Center Stage in Calabar as 66th NCH Begins

By Kingsley Agim Nigeria’s foremost health policymakers, technical experts, and development partners have gathered in Calabar for the 66th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Health (NCH), which commenced on Monday at the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC). The week-long meeting, widely recognized as the nation’s highest decision-making platform for the health sector, opened with rigorous technical sessions aimed at fast-tracking Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through equity, resilience, and innovation. Held under the theme “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation,” the opening sessions featured a structured review of national health policies and progress. Delegates examined the procedure for the technical deliberations, revisited the resolutions of the 65th NCH, assessed progress made by states and federal institutions, and began evaluating critical memos expected to shape the country’s health trajector...

Ibor Emerges as Director of Finance and Accounts at Progressive Institute

Hon. Bassey Ina Ibor Ph.D. has been appointed as the Director of Finance and Accounts of The Progressive Institute (TPI), a policy think tank and intellectual resource center of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He holds an impressive array of academic credentials, including a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Calabar, an M.Sc. in Banking and Finance, and an MBA. His appointment follows his distinguished career in the financial services sector, where he has spent over 40 years specializing in accounting, audit, banking, and financial services marketing. Dr. Ibor, a distinguished Nigerian financial expert, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, cementing his position as a key player in the advancement of the party’s objectives. His professional qualifications are equally extensive, with fellowship status in several renowned institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and t...

Detailing News

Search This Blog