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Tag: Nelson Brambaifa

  • Brambaifa: we’ll prioritise girl-child education’

    ACTING Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Prof. Nelson Brambaifa has promised that the commission will prioritise girl-child education to build her capacity and enhance her self-esteem so as to contribute positively to nation-building.

    Brambaifa spoke on Monday at NDDC’s Corporate Headquarters in Port Harcourt, when he received an award from the National Association of Nigeria Female Students (NANFS), who visited him.

    The Managing Director described education as the bedrock of any developing country, with women being strategic in the equation.

    He said: “NDDC has embarked on many infrastructural development projects and capacity building programmes in the Niger Delta. Many female students have benefited from our foreign post-graduate scholarships and other capacity building programmes over the years, because we believe in the saying that ‘educate a girl-child and you have educated a nation’.

    Read Also: ‘Poverty barrier to girl-child education’

    “NDDC will collaborate with any organisation that is ready to promote and safeguard the education of the girl-child to acquire skills and boost her self-confidence. We have your proposal, and the management will look at it critically, to see the area in which we can partner to protect the girl-child.”

    NANFS President Joan Obi pleaded with NDDC to support the organisation in its fight against discrimination of women in the society. She disclosed that NANFS had embarked on a sensitisation campaign tagged: “Say no to drug abuse and violence against women”.

    Obi hailed the management of NDDC for executing people-oriented projects.

    She said: “The advancement of education in the Niger Delta, through the ongoing scholarship programme, nation-building with transparency and integrity, as well as strong advocacy for peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region must be vigorously pursued.”

    Obi, who presented an award of “21st Century Icon of Meritorious Service and Role Model to the Younger Generation” to Brambaifa, said the award was given in view of his outstanding leadership qualities, transparency and laudable contributions to the development of the Niger Delta in particular and Nigeria in general.

  • NDDC boss commends INEC, urges more development

    The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for conducting peaceful elections in his community, Agbere in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, despite reports of disturbances across the country.

    Prof. Brambaifa said through statement signed his Special Assistant on Media, Ayebakuro Igbeta, that his he was particularly happy that he performed his civic duties, alongside his wife, Dr. Anna Brambaifa, at their Town Hall Polling Unit 2, Agbere.

    According to him, “I was particularly encouraged by the large turnout of voters, stating that the “people showed that they are politically conscious and are determined to play a role towards the development of the area and fostering regional peace and security.”

    Furthermore, He said: “My mandate at the NDDC is to facilitate the development of our people in the Niger Delta Region, to improve their living conditions, to bring peace and security to the Niger Delta, following the example laid down by the Federal Government and these I and the executive management are determined to do.”

    Prof. Brambaifa called on all Niger Deltans to eschew political differences and contribute to making the region a better place, stating that the poor state of affairs in the Niger Delta seemed to always make youths restless in the communities.

    Read Also: NDDC chief: Buhari loves Niger Delta

    “Our communities according to him, are in dire need of our intervention”, “So our urgent commitment is to work together, as leaders of the region and our people, to change their fortunes, improve their lives and fulfil their dreams of a better region.

    He said that the elections had come and gone and “we must return to our duty to work for the benefit of our people.

  • Tension in Niger Delta over plot against new NDDC boss

    There was tension in the Niger Delta region following moves by a section of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State to force replacement of the newly-appointed acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa.

    It was gathered the appointment of Brambaifa shocked the Bayelsa APC leadership and altered the calculation of the party’s camp loyal to the state leader of APC and former Governor Timipre Sylva.

    The camp was said to have expected Sylva or someone loyal to him to clinch the coveted position in NDDC ahead of the forthcoming general and governorship elections in the state.

    But the camp was said to have been thrown into crisis after the Presidency opted for Brambaifa, whose recommendation reportedly came from the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi.

    A member of Sylva’s camp, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that the appointment would not stand insisting Brambaifa’s role as the managing director was temporary.

    “We were sure that either Sylva or a candidate he rcommended would be announced as the new boss of the NDDC. We were surprised when Brambaifa was announced. But for us this is one appointment that will not stand. He will surely be replaced,” he said.

    But the Central Zone of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Coalition of Niger Delta Youth Bodies (CNDYB), Ijaw Unity and Peace Committee (IUPC) and ex-militants commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment and urged persons against Braimbaifa to sheathe their swords.

    Speaking at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, the Chairman, IYC Central Zone, Tare Porri, said the new boss of the NDDC, being an Ijaw man, deserved the support of all Ijaw people.

    He urged persons from Bayelsa making moves against the new managing director to desist and mobilise support for him to succeed in his assignment.

    He said: “We have just been told that some persons are not satisfied with his appointment.

    “We want to say that the Ijaw cannot be more blessed than now. God has given us an Ijaw man to head the commission.

    “So, l call on Ijaw leaders to mobilise support for Prof. Brambaifa as the MD. When a man from Akwa Ibom was the MD, the entire state and people of Akwa Ibom mobilised support for him. That should be our own case”.

    Also ex-militants, under the auspices of the Third Phase Ex-Agitators, warned persons planning to protest against the appointment of Brambaifa to desist from it.

    Read Also: I’ll pay Niger Delta more attention – Buhari

    The Chairman of the group, Osaanya B. Osaanya, described such persons as devilish and urged people in Bayelsa to stay away from them.

    He said: “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Prof. Brambaifa from Bayelsa state as the head of the NDDC. He is more than qualified to occupy the position.

    “We want to warn those, who are planning any form of protest against the appointment of Professor Nelson Brambaifa as enemies of Bayelsa State

    “It is on this note that we as ex-agitators call on all Bayelsa to be wary and run away from devilish people who don’t mean well for our state. We will stand against any for of oppression against the will of the people”.

    Similarly, the CNDYB, in a statement by its coordinator, Ayebakuro Igbeta, described Brambaifa as an astute professional with the ability to administer the affairs of the commission.

    Igbeta said: “The coalition wishes to on behalf of the people of the region commend President Muhammadu Buhari, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Federal Government of Nigeria for laying to rest the disturbing issue of the NDDC tenure.

    “It cannot be overemphasised that the issue was at some time beginning to brew disaffection and accrimony amongst the people of the region.

    “This appointment has most certainly laid to rest the burning questions bothering even on the integrity and sincerity of the President Buhari-led Federal Government”.

    Convener of the IUPC, Justin Ogboma, said the appointment of Brambaifa showed the sincerity and commitment of President Buhari to develop the region.

    “The decision of Brambaifa in particular is worth commending, as he is one man, with virtue of honesty, commitment and all-embracing.

    “We are confident that instead of causing disaffection, Brambaifa is one man that will build bridges and utilise the position to advance your good work in our region,” he said,

    Aggrieved by the move against Brambaifa, militants, who identified themselves as the Strike Force of MEND, threatened resistance from it’s ranks, if the Presidency, yields to selfish demands by replacing or removing Brambaifa.

    They said Brambaifa’s appointment was a product of the cries, protests, agitations and sacrifices of Ijaws, who refused to be cowed by fear, death or intimidation.

    Speaking through their spokesperson, Capt. Jhoto Koankiri, the group advised the Presidency to jettison desperate moves capable destabilising peace in the region.

  • ‘Buhari specially loves Niger Delta’

    The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari specially loves the Niger Delta region.

    Brambaifa, who spoke during the inaugural meeting of the new management at NDDC’s corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, confirmed that the Federal Government had indeed begun refunding over N1.3 trillion owed the commission since inception.

    The acting managing director of the Federal Government’s interventionist agency, whose appointment was announced last Friday, along with those of the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Chris Amadi, and the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Samuel Adjogbe, noted that the new management team was a response to the growing unhappiness in the Niger Delta, over government’s commitment to developing the region and improving the living conditions of the people.

    He stated that the Niger Delta had suffered enough, with President Buhari recognizing the suffering, thereby taking prompt action to redress the situation and reassure the people on government’s commitment to their welfare.

    Brambaifa reiterated that President Buhari had for the first time since the establishment of the NDDC, ensured that the Federal Government started to meet its statutory financial obligations to the commission in full.

    He disclosed that the President also ensured that all other statutory contributors to the funding of NDDC met their obligations, noting that President Buhari also worked to restore peace and security in the Niger Delta by tackling all grievances of the people.

    Read Also: I’ll pay Niger Delta more attention – Buhari

    The new NDDC chief stated that the appointment of the management team was another step in the effort to offer hope to the Niger Delta people and restore their confidence and faith that he would take decisive action to rebuild the region.

    Brambaifa pledged to do everything necessary to respect and implement the mandate of the commission, which, according to him, was to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that would be socially stable, economically prosperous, politically peaceful and ecologically regenerative.

    He stated that it was necessary to start work immediately, stating that the task of developing the Niger Delta was too important to be toyed with and too compelling to waste time on.

    The acting managing director urged all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to join hands with members of the new executive management to ensure a smooth transition and to also contribute to the immediate delivery of President Buhari’s mandate.

    While later addressing staff of NDDC, Brambaifa urged them to embrace teamwork, while assuring that he would positively change the commission and take it to the next level.

     

  • Bayelsa revenue board seals NDDC’s office in Yenagoa over N168m tax liability

    Bayelsa revenue board seals NDDC’s office in Yenagoa over N168m tax liability

    The Bayelsa Board of Internal Revenue (BIR)  on Monday sealed off the office of  the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)  in Yenagoa over alleged non-remittance of N168 million Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax liability.

    The building  was earlier sealed off in June 2017 when the liability was  N336 million, with the  NDDC paying  half of the sum leaving the balance unpaid.

    The Director of Compliance, Mr Robert Lokoson, who led the enforcement team, said the government was compelled to act following the failure of the NDDC to keep to the agreement to offset the debt in two instalments.

    Read Also: INEC creates 10 additional centres in Bayelsa

    “Sometime in June 2017, the board was forced to levy a warrant of  distrain (Order of court to compel payment)  on NDDC in view of a tax debt for 2008-2014  totalling  N336 million.

    “Following the intervention by stakeholders and a meeting between the board and the NDDC, we graciously suspended destrain  with provision that the liability will be cleared in two tranches of N168 million within two months.

    “Sadly after the first tranche was paid in July 2017, the NDDC has refused to clear the last tranche of N168 million  five months later.

    “It is this intransigent attitude that has compelled the board to re-levy the distrain and recover the outstanding N168 million,” Lokoson said.

    Meanwhile, staff of the NDDC who were forced out of their offices, wondered why the commission could not remit the taxes deducted from their salaries.

    The Bayelsa representative on the NDDC board, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, was not available when the team visited for the tax drive.

    NAN

  • Revenue board seals NDDC’s office in Yenagoa over N336m tax liability

    Revenue board seals NDDC’s office in Yenagoa over N336m tax liability

    The Bayelsa Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), on Friday sealed off the Bayelsa office of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), over alleged non-remittance of N336million Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax liability.

    The BIR enforcement team served a court order on the staff before they ordered them to leave their offices.

    The Director of Compliance, Mr Robert Lokoson, who led the enforcement team, said the state government took the steps following fruitless efforts made to recover the outstanding tax deducted from workers’ salaries since 2014.

    Lokoson said the operation was part of renewed efforts to boost the internally generated revenue of the state.

    “This operation is part of efforts to recover tax revenue owed to the government by Niger Delta Development Commission and pursuant to Section 104 of Personal Income Tax Law, 2011.

    “The debt has been owed since 2014 and we have written series of letters to them to pay, but no response from them.

    “Four weeks back, we came and persuaded the management of NDDC to pay, but when it became obvious they were not ready to pay, we had to approach the courts to get the orders to seal their office.

    “So, we have to take this last resort of getting court orders, after we had exhausted other options ’’ the director said.

    He said at the expiration of 14 days, if the tax liability was not settled, the revenue board will be compelled to liquidate assets of NDDC to recover the tax debt.

    Meanwhile staff of the NDDC who were forced out of their offices, wondered why the commission could not remit the taxes deducted from their salary.

    The Bayelsa representative on the NDDC board, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, was not available when the team visited for the tax drive.