The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has signed a corporate governance advisory services agreement with Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG), a human resources and global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and consultancy.
The agreement between the both parties was signed on Thursday at the headquarters of the Commission.
Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, who spoke during the short ceremony said partnering with KPMG will restore the image of the commission, add creditability and credence to their activities and usher in more development in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku said signing of the governance advisory services agreement with KPMG was part of the drive of his administration to engage development partners and donor agencies in development of the Niger Delta and rebuild the people’s confidence in the commission, maintaining that NDDC is a responsible organisation that anybody can do business with.
He noted that the move to build good governance in the NDDC was also driven by the believe of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transparency and good governance.
“For me, its a ground breaking moment just as I consider it the rebirth of NDDC. The NDDC has gone through different stages of tormoil and NDDC has also, over the years been called all sorts of names, making it looks as if NDDC had not been a serious organisation. We took that up as a challenge.
“NDDC is not a complete failure as it is been seen, but for us to do things differently, we will ensure to do things that will be equal to international and best practice. Hence, we started looking at the option of engaging KPMG to come and provide advisory for governance services.
“We believe that by commiting to this agreement and partnership with KPMG will provide advisory services for governance and launch NDDC into the international level of acceptance, we are ready to be regulated internally and that means our processes are going to comply with international best practices according to KPMG standard.
“We want to create standard and strengthen the institution so that whatever we leave behind, it will be difficult for anybody to upturn it. NDDC should be known for standard, and would not be seen as a launching bags for political activities anymore as it is being perceived.
“This internal regulations will be followed strictly, because compliance is also part of the agreement we are signed with them.
“It has not been there but, we thought we just have to start it in order to build that confidence and in compliance with the vision of the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that believes in transparency and good governance.
“So, the event of today is to tell the world that NDDC has been reborn and for them to change whatever impression they have about NDDC.
“After this, we will launch ourselves into visiting other smaller international organisations to solicit for technical support as part of rebuilding the image of the NDDC” he said.
Speaking, leader of the KPMG team, Tolu Odukaye thanked management of the NDDC for trusting them for the task of providing corporate governance advisory services to the commission.
He said the process will give them the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as well.
He however promised that they will do their best to help the Ogbuku-led NDDC achieve it’s goals.
