The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has signed an agreement with KPMG, a multinational business management consultancy firm, to provide advisory services to the Commission on global best practices in corporate governance culture and internal processes.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the NDDC
headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku,
noted that partnering with KPMG, would help elevate the Commission’s processes
to international standards.
He said: “Today is a ground-breaking moment. NDDC has been
seen as a failure in the past, so we decided to adopt global best practices for
our Corporate Governance culture and internal processes, hence the decision to
engage the KPMG.
“We are ready to be internally regulated. Signing this
agreement with the KPMG will boost the credibility of the NDDC and in the long
term, enhance the development of the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku said that the objective was to strengthen the NDDC as
an institution by instituting internal regulations that would outlive the
current management. He noted: “For us to do things differently, we must do them
according to international best practices. This is why we engaged KPMG to
provide advisory services.
“As part of our drive in this administration, we have duly
engaged development partners and donor agencies; we believe this is a crucial
step as it builds confidence that we not only have good governance but that we
are also transparent.
Speaking earlier, Lead Partner and Head, Governance
Processes, KPMG, Mr. Tolu Odukale, commended the NDDC leadership for partnering
with the KPMG in the development of the Niger Delta region, noting that the
relationship would boost the confidence of investors and development partners.
He promised that KPMG would bring all its skills and
experiences to boost NDDC’s internal processes and ensure accountability and
transparency.
In his remarks, the Executive Director Finance and
Administration, NDDC, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd) noted that
engaging the services of the KPMG will enhance the service delivery of the NDDC
which will result in satisfaction of stakeholders.
Also speaking, the NDDC Executive Director Projects, Mr.
Charles Ogunmola, commended the KPMG for partnering with the Commission,
stating that the agreement would help the Commission in its reformation and
transformation process.
It is a global network of professional firms providing
audit, tax and advisory services, with an industry focus. KPMG is a global
network.