A group, Transparency, Accountability, Equity and Unity Network, has called for a presidential order to investigate the alleged recruitment going on at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr Aniefiok Ibange, made the call on Monday during an interactive session with Journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State
The group alleged that the Interim Management Committee of the commission was recruiting new employees without regard to due process.
It thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the forensic audit of the commission, following allegations of massive fraud against its former management.
It appealed to the president to immediately halt the recruitment and order a thorough investigation into the exercise.
It opined that recruitment into the commission should only happen at the end of the forensic audit and must follow due process.
“We know the president better and we stand solidly by him to conclude the forensic audit of the commission.
“We are sure that the employment of our people into the commission will be done transparently,” Ibange said.
He said that recruitment into the Federal Civil Service has laid down procedure.
“We know that the procedure follows due process, as we have seen in federal establishments, such as the military and paramilitary services.
“We want to say unequivocally that any employment not advertised and in line with the norms of the civil service cannot be entertained in the NDDC.
“We, therefore, call on the Sole Administrator of the commission, Mr Effiong Akwa, his supervisor and principal, to stop any recruitment that does not follow due process,” he said.
In a reaction, the Director, Corporate Affairs of the commission, Dr Ibitoye Abosede, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was no recruitment going on in the commission “to the best of my knowledge”.
