Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Mrs. Waaka Lebari, circulating in the online media, wherein she tried to sell the dummy that the employment and promotion of our Director Legal Services, Mr. Peter Claver Okoro, did not follow due process.
The NDDC Management, wishes to state that Okoro’s employment was approved by the Dr. Tarila Tebepah-led board, while his promotion was approved by the Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba-led board.
We also wish to state that at the time Okoro joined the NDDC, the position of Deputy Director Legal Services was vacant. Hence, it was advertised prompting interested candidates, including Okoro, to apply. He wrote the appropriate examination, passed and was subsequently interviewed before his employment.
It is important to note that the entire exercise was backed by a Board resolution. The process was transparent as the exams took place at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RUST, while the oral interview was held at Protea Hotel, Port Harcourt.
Before joining the NDDC, Okoro was an Assistant Director in the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, and he was adjudged the best candidate in the tests for the Deputy Director category.
It is, therefore, diversionary to resort to attacking the credulity of our recruitment and promotion system.
The management of the commission led by the Acting Managing Director, Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, operates with laid down rules and procedures. Our stakeholders should be rest assured that all our promotion exercises comply with the statutes establishing the commission and extant Public Service Rules.