Leadership (Abuja)
2 October 2008
opinion
In two major moves last week, the federal government demonstrated its commitment to addressing the lingering crisis in the Niger Delta. First, the alternative to the controversial Niger Delta summit, which President Umaru Yar'Adua promised on assumption of office, was set up with the composition of a 45-man technical committee led by a respected Niger Delta activist, Mr. Ledum Mitee. It would be recalled that Mitee was deputy to the renowned leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), late Ken Saro-Wiwa. He is currently the leader of the movement. Two days later, the president took a bolder step with the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. These two actions taken in quick succession, have created the impression that the president has given thought to the Niger Delta issue.
The importance President Yar'Adua attaches to the Niger Delta question was what informed its inclusion in his 7-point agenda. But since the inception of this administration 16 months ago, the government appears incapable of tackling the problem squarely. Plans to hold the region's summit had suffered several reverses. There were several postponements and prevarications. But with the eventual composition of the Niger Delta Technical Committee (NDTC) and the establishment of the Ministry of Niger Delta, the government appears to have found the courage to confront the problems squarely.
The decision to create a ministry for the Niger Delta has understandably attracted a lot of comments both in favour and against. However, most people from the Niger Delta welcome the plan and describe the move as a water-shed in the search for an enduring peace in the oil-rich, but neglected geo-political zone. It is, however, one thing to create a ministry, but another thing for the ministry to function and achieve the desired results for the benefit of the greater number of the people. Serious attention must be paid to this ministry and should not be used for creating jobs for people who may not have the interest of the generality of the Niger Deltans at heart. Thus, President Yar'Adua must ensure that the government appoints capable hands to man the ministry in order to achieve the desired results in the zone through good governance.
The expectations of the people of the region is high and justifiably so. This means that there must be evidence of performance to satisfy their yearnings. To succeed, therefore, the ministry must be adequately funded to enable it expeditiously lift the region from its present state of squalor.
Beyond the provision of infrastructure, the ministry should place a lot of emphasis on human capital development. The various empowerment programmes being pursued by different stakeholders need to be stepped up and widened in scope. That way, the ministry would facilitate the rapid socio-economic development of the region.
It is obvious to everyone that finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the region is a national priority. The ministry should reflect this seriousness in terms of its mandate which should be broad and holistic. Some lawmakers who have analysed the pros and cons of the new approach to the Niger Delta problem seem uncomfortable with the fact that the ministry and not the presidency would now be calling the shots in matters affecting the troubled region. The skeptics, however, fear that the ministry would become an unnecessary bureaucratic bottleneck in the interventionist approach needed in the region.
The current government's policy must be done in such a way that the essence is not lost in unnecessary bureaucracy for which ministries at whatever level, are notorious. Again, the mandate of the ministry should not impede the activities of existing statutorily established commissions such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). If anything, the commission should be strengthened in such a manner that it can perform its functions more efficiently. The ministry is expected to uplift the huge burden that has been crushing the people of the Niger Delta. The responsibilities are enormous and the ministry should have enough on its plates and therefore, should not get entangled with the contributions of other stakeholders in the region. Given the problems in the Niger Delta, the ministry on its own, can embark on massive regional projects. If the ministry plays its role well, the Niger Delta region stands to benefit so much. This is more so as it gives the people a direct voice in the federal executive council.
Good as this is, making the NDDC a parastatal of the ministry would be a retrogressive step. Besides, the law setting up the commission does not support that kind of arrangement. The interventionist agency should be allowed to remain as it is, reporting directly to the presidency. The way the commission operates gives enough room for all the key stakeholders in the region to contribute their own quota to the development of the region.
The former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had said during the inauguration of the pioneer board of the NDDC that "the commission is about a regional development programme. The commission is an agency and one of the stakeholders in the development of Niger Delta region. Its activities do not preclude other federal government development programmes that are normally due to the states in the region. Nor is the NDDC intended to inhibit local initiatives that are the normal responsibilities of state governments or local communities. The commission is not to take over constitutional responsibilities of any tier of government in the region. The federal ministries and agencies will continue to carry out projects in the region."
It is instructive to note that the projects executed by the NDDC were the only federal government presence in the oil-producing communities in the past eight years. This important role must be enhanced and not diminished by any form of bureaucratic red tape usually associated with ministries. Subsuming the NDDC under the ministry would militate against the efficiency of the commission.The present structure of the NDDC enables it to take decisions quickly and execute projects promptly. Take for instance its recent intervention to save a section of the East/West road from total collapse. For many days, motorists were stranded at the Mbiama section of the major highway and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) was no where to be found. The NDDC moved in immediately to salvage the situation. This was possible because, the commission could take decisions independently.
No doubt, placing a ministry over and above the NDDC would herald some complications, as the ministry's "go slow" approach would undermine the overall objective of urgently developing the Niger Delta. It is generally agreed that the region requires some interventionist approach that calls for speed. The bane of the NDDC has been inadequate funding. We have an agency created by an Act of parliament and yet, every year since its inception, there are shortfalls in the statutory allocations to the commission. Even now, the federal government is reportedly yet to release to the commission a whopping N326 billion.
There is hope that the creation of the ministry would quicken the pace of development in the region. Mr. President has created a ministry; let's see the funding that the ministry would attract. Let's see how the government will go beyond just creating the ministry of Niger Delta, to additionally implementing the NDDC Act, which is an off-shoot of the Willinks Commission's recommendation. To what extent is the creation of that ministry going to enhance and accelerate the implementation of the Niger Delta Development Plan? These are the kind of things that come to mind for now.
The creation of the ministry, without evident corresponding will to develop the region, will be no more than mere window dressing. The Regional Master Plan is a comprehensive document produced by all the major stakeholders. The Ministry of Niger Delta should adopt it as its working document and faithfully follow its implementation.
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