DESOPADEC: Communities Frown At Board Members Tenure Extension

PHOTO: DELTA STATE GOVERNOR, EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN.

ASABA, DELTA April 24, (THEWILL) – Anger is building amongst the people of oil producing communities in Delta State, who in no time may launch fresh protest against the Delta State Government,  over an alleged plot to extend by one year the tenure of the Chairman, and Commissioners of the Delta State oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

The law establishing the commission stipulated a single term of three years for both the chairman, and commissioners.

In  the stipulated law, the tenure of the current serving board chairman and commissioners of the commission will expire on the 10th May, but this may not be, as information reaching THEWILL, revealed an underground plot by members of the Delta State House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the serving board members through a resolution in no distant future.

Though, a national executive member of the association of the oil producing communities who would not want his name in prints, when contacted on phone by THEWILL, said, he was on his way to Abuja to attend a conference, where important issues affecting the communities shall be addressed.

He noted that the law establishing the commission stipulated three years for board members, warning that any plot to extend the tenure would amount to a break down of law and order in the state.

THEWILL investigations reveal that citizens from the oil-bearing communities are already shopping for new candidates to represent them in the board of the commission, as  serving members of the Board may not have the intention of retaining their positions.

Citizens from the oil producing communities are patiently waiting for May 10^th, 2010, when the tenure of the serving board members will  expire, and watch whether the Delta State Government will appoint new members or extend the tenure of serving members.