Niger-Delta youths under the “NDDC Youth Internship Programme” may go for spoil should the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) fail to pay their arrears of monthly stipends.
The youths, also plotted to barricade the Commission’s offices in their respective states, before taking the action against the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for refusing to pay their N50, 000 monthly allowances in the past five months.
One of the youths, Mr. Ovie Owens who spoke shortly after their virtual meeting on Monday, June 30, lamented the poor handling of the welfare of NDDC Youth Internship Programme by the Commission in Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States.
He queried the rationale with which the Managing Director, Dr. Ogbuku is withholding the payment for that long, without considering the suffering of the beneficiaries under the excruciating economy.
Mr. Owens however, threatened that if their allowances are not paid, they will embark on what he described as “Operation Disgrace NDDC” across the region’s offices in the states, as well as take the matter to the National Assembly in Abuja.
“We are making this formal complaint of non payment of monthly stipends to beneficiaries of the NDDC Youth Internship programme in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River and other States in the region to be known to NDDC management today, to respond to our plights.
“For the avoidance of trouble with the youths, let NDDC pay our stipends amounting to five months now. The last time we were paid was January allowance paid on February 10. We demand urgent response to our plights”, Owens added.
Another anonymous beneficiary from Akwa Ibom also laid complaints saying, “I am one of the beneficiaries of NDDC Youth Internship Programme from Akwa Ibom State.
“I was opportuned to be selected among the youths for this programme with the promised of assisting us with monthly stipends of N50,000. The programme started very well on January 2025 and we all received the first tranche on February 10, 2025. Since then, we have been waiting for over 4 months without receiving any money from the Commission.
“All the beneficiaries of this programme are lamenting, why the Commission that was established to provide meaningful development and ensure welfare of the people/youth empowerment, is playing pranks with the youths.
“We, therefore call on the Managing Director of the Commission; Chairmen, National Assembly Committees on the Niger-Delta to come to our aid in this regard as the beneficiaries are suffering.
“We have been quietly waiting for this stipends to be paid, and as it stands now it is clear that the Commission is either joking with the programme or someone has cashed out with the money meant for us, as nobody has come out openly to explain why the delays.
“If nothing is done within few days from now we shall have no choice than to mobilize ourselves to NDDC headquarters for protest. We cannot be taken for granted for all that long by the NDDC that was supposed to cater for the people of the region”, he added.
