Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has restated that the completion of the multi-billion naira headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, reflects the ministry’s determination to work and reposition the commission.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Babayo Ardo stated this when he met with the National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer of SERVICOM, Mrs. Nnenna Akajemeli and her team who paid the ministry a courtesy visit.
He said the ministry is committed to upscale in its service delivery process to ensure it remains focused in delivering its mandate of accelerated development of the Niger Delta Region.
“The completion and inauguration of the multi billion naira newly completed office complex of the NDDC, shows that the Ministry is determined to work and see to the rejigging and repositioning of the NDDC.
“The mandate of the Ministry is to formulate, execute and coordinate plans, programmes and other initiatives to fast track the development of the Niger Delta region, noting that the engagement between the Ministry and the SERVICOM office would help the Ministry to get stronger and better in its service delivery,” he added.
While commending SERVICOM for helping to drive service delivery nationwide, the perm sec noted that the Niger Delta ministry has made giant strides in its short period of 12years of existence.
He noted that one of the acute challenges negatively impacting on the activities of the ministry to deliver its mandate is the area of funding.
Babayo added that since the ministry’s inception in 2009, its budget has been on decline, while the needs of the people of the Niger Delta region are on the increase, adding that longer period of raining season and environmental disasters also contributes to poor project execution.
In her response, National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, SERVICOM, while commending the efforts of the ministry, stated that more can be done in the area of sensitization.
“It will require a lot of thinking out of the box such that it can begin to facilitate and fashion out customer sensitive focus service improvement activities and programmes, giving out information about the Ministry’s engagements and its challenges.
“The Ministry should always give out information to the citizens and stakeholders so that they would be able to understand some of these tough decisions, tough scenarios that Ministry have to cope with, adding that a lot of work can be done around consultation.
“We can do advocacy using the SERVICOM platform to get feedbacks, customer’s perception, and engagements to know what their priorities are,” she added.
According to SERVICOM, the platform would help the Niger Delta ministry make right decisions that would cushion the effect of negativities in the environment, and add value to the lives of Niger Deltans.
