Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
THE Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has inaugurated a Committee for the Negotiation and Review of Staff Terms and Conditions of Service to improve staff welfare and strengthen efficient service delivery across the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during the inauguration at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said the review was necessary to create a structured and harmonious work environment that balances staff welfare with the Commission’s mandate.
Iyaye congratulated members of the committee on their selection by Management and the Staff Union, describing the assignment as critical to the smooth operation of the Commission.
He noted that terms and conditions of service provide the framework governing the relationship between employees and employers.
“Without a contract, organisations cannot function effectively. If there are no conditions of service, people will not be guided properly; Management could decide to remove staff benefits, and nobody would question it. But when we have laid down principles, terms and conditions of service for both staff and Management, we will have a more organised work environment,” Iyaye said.
He stated that Management, staff and the Union were fully represented on the committee, and urged members to work collectively to review the document clause by clause, correct mistakes, and address omissions identified from the previous review.
Iyaye charged the committee to place the overall interest of the Commission above individual interests, stressing that the exercise was fundamentally about negotiation and finding a balance that would benefit both the workforce and the organisation.
The Executive Director further urged the committee not to rush the process but to benchmark the Commission’s conditions of service against those of other government agencies and organisations, in line with prevailing practices and applicable government regulations.
He reminded the committee of the Commission’s broader mandate to promote sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
“Our mandate first is to the people of the Niger Delta and how to sustain the development of the region. While negotiating the benefits of staff, also know that we have a mandate to achieve, which is to ensure the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region,” he advised.
Committee Urged to Approach Task with Integrity
In his remarks, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, expressed appreciation to the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, for approving the review committee, describing the inauguration as an important milestone in ensuring that staff terms and conditions of service remained relevant, fair, responsive and aligned with the evolving needs of the workforce.
Nwelue noted that for the NDDC to effectively fulfil its mandate, its policies and staff terms and conditions of service must be periodically reviewed to reflect current realities, organisational needs and applicable regulations.
He described the task before the committee as significant, urging members to approach the assignment with commitment, integrity, patience and a spirit of cooperation.
Committee Composition
Members of the committee include the Director of Administration and Human Resources as Chairman; the Director of Finance and Accounts; the Director of Internal Audit; the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics; the Director of Legal Services; the NDDC Staff Union Chairman and Secretary; as well as other representatives drawn from various departments of the Commission.
The NDDC, established to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, has faced numerous challenges over the years, including allegations of mismanagement and calls for greater transparency and accountability in its operations.
The review of staff terms and conditions comes amid broader efforts to reposition the Commission and improve its service delivery to the people of the oil-rich region. Stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, expressing hope that it would lead to improved staff morale and more efficient utilisation of resources.
The committee is expected to complete its work within a stipulated timeframe and submit recommendations to Management for consideration and implementation.
