The State House of Assembly Committee on DESOPADEC has pledged to push speedy infrastructural development in Oil and Gas bearing communities across the state.
The House Committee Chairman, Hon Austin Uroye gave the assurance during an interactive session with members of the Board of the Commission at the Assembly Complex in Asaba, the state capital.
Honourable Uroye stressed the importance of actualising the mandate of DESOPADEC as an interventionist agency in the state with particular attention on Oil and Gas producing communities.
The Lawmaker who represents Warri South One constituency, said the Committee’s constructive engagement with members of the Board was aimed at championing areas of collaboration for DESOPADEC to succeed in the task ahead of it.
Hon Uroye charged the DESOPADEC officials led by the Chairman, Hon John Nani and Managing Director, Chief Festus Ochonogor, to prioritize the welfare of citizens, of whose interest the Commission was established.
While acknowledging the challenges in the DESOPADEC mandate areas, he emphasized the need for the Commission to ensure peace, stability and progress in the communities.
The law maker urged the board to respect the rules of engagement and never compromise standards in the execution of projects.
Other members of the Committee who spoke, including Hon. Ferguson Onwo, Fred Martins, and Oloye Pereotu, acknowledged the need for effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders, in the awards and execution of projects by the DESOPADEC, and called for transparency and accountability in line with relevant laws of the state.
They stressed the need to complete abandoned projects awarded by the Commission, assuring of the Committee‘s preparedness to facilitate early passage of the Commission’s budget.
The Chairman of the board, Honourable John Nani and Managing Director, Chief Festus Ochonogor, said the Commission had ensured that the basic assignment of the Commission to positively touch lives in oil bearing communities were carried out despite the challenges.
They expressed satisfaction with the synergy existing between the Board and the House Committee on DESOPADEC, saying that such collaboration would further promote development in the Commission’s mandate areas.
NIM