The Executive Director Social Services Development, on the Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, (DESOPADEC), Hon. Ochor Chris Ochor has said that the commission is in good working relationship with other public and private agencies in Nigeria.
Hon Ochor made this known recently when the commission held an advocacy meeting with members of the Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE-Africa) and Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), in Warri.
According to the Executive Director, in other for the commission to work efficiently and meet the needs of the people within the mandate areas, the commission is in working relations with other agencies of government that has similar responsibilities to develop the Niger Delta Area, like the ministry of Environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), the Niger Delta Ministry and Women Affairs Ministry
Speaking further, he said the area of synergy will increase once the State House of Assembly Approves the 2016 budget of the commission, and with availability of funds, there will be a more working relationship with sister agencies in Imo state, Edo State and others, that have the Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
“This current board is in practice to those objectives setting it up, it’s also trying to meet up with such objectives”. He said.
Hon Ochor while commending the group for carrying out a study and making recommendations for proper organisational management said that the present commission has decided to be transparent by ensuring that activities of DESOPADEC is always in public domain by constant updating of the commission’s website.
On the issue of uncompleted projects, the Executive Director said that the policy of the commission is now complete and commission, where 60 percent of the budget will be allocated to ongoing projects, and 40 percent to new projects, in addition to the “Bottom Up Approach” of the board members, where the needs of the people will be considered in citing and executing of any project.
“The Board has taking a decision that all ongoing projects will be continued, completed and commissioned, and that is while 60 percent of the budget was allocated in 2016 budget, and 40 percent to new jobs”. He concluded.
Earlier, the leader of the group, Mr Leo Atakpu has called for synergy between the commission and advocacy groups, and other similar bodies in the country, because study has shown lack of synergy among agencies working to develop the Niger Delta Area.
