…Credibility, transparency best shield for CEOs.
Here is the scenario. A renowned professor and anti-corruption crusader comes out to say what looks like a huge indictment on the chief executive officer of the almighty Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the sitting CEO shouts it’s a lie, all eyes turn on the immediate past acting managing director, she too comes out to wash her hands off such scandal, the professor who started it all says yes, these two are innocent, it happened in the far past. Ouch!
The most dangerous CEO jobs seem to be in Nigeria where such leaders need bullet-proof vests to walk about, literally and otherwise. After all, Nigeria’s presidency has since been classified as the toughest job in the world. By the same token, CEO jobs in Nigeria might as well be the toughest in the world.
Physical dangers apart, the reputation harms are huge. Corruption and looting are so huge and rampant that most persons expect every CEO of a government agency to start looting on day one. In fact, some officers in an agency would rush to the new CEO’s home to show him how it is done, to ask him to ‘shine your eye, it is your turn’.
A CEO was shown how to collect security vote and personal allowances ranging up to N75 million. Being an iron cast person, he asked for paper evidence that it was his entitlement. All he got was, “That is how others were doing it.” He said, “I am not like the others, I want document.” All he saw was a mere N5 million for security per month. See the difference – N70m savings per month.
It is believed that every CEO of a government institution in Nigeria must loot, and quickly too. The losers, however, seem to be those who refuse to do so. First, pressure would come on them. Next, false accusations would mount against them by those who believe that by now the new man must be looting too.
Unfortunately, we seem to be a clime where lying against a public officer has no repercussion because truth has no value either. It is so bad that instead of the onus of proof to be on the accuser, it is shifted to the accused. Those who openly lie simply move on to the next lie if the former is debunked. The society does not demand for accountability of statements. Those who lie or err in statements against a public officer do not even bother to clarify it or withdraw it if better and further evidence is adduced to the contrary.
The recent NDDC case bordering on allegations of splashing N560m on cars is perhaps one example where due process in public commentary and honour was exhibited by all concerned, especially the professor, Itse Sagay, at least for amending his charge.
But it was the current CEO of the NDDC, Akwa Ibom State-born Nsima U. Ekere, and the immediate past acting MD, Rivers State-born Ibim Semenitari, who exhibited the real honour. The case proved once again that good name, clean hands in office, and personal credibility gathered over the years are a huge shield to one’s image in or out of office.
The reputation climate was stirred early in March 2017 through an accusation by the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Itse Sagay (SAN), when he lambasted various government agencies, even under the Muhammadu Buhari no-nonsense administration, for allegedly spending heavily or recklessly as if there was no recession.
On the NDDC, Sagay had particularly talked about buying over 70 cars that included eight super Lexus that cost N70m each and 10 Toyota Land-Cruiser jeeps at N65m each, yet the commission always cried out over lack of funds to execute people-oriented projects.
The world shook. How could Buharites be squandering huge sums at a time like while their alter-ego was pelting former administrators for doing same? Nigerians have been waiting for this kind of accusation against the president. So, could this be the moment?
Sensing there would be mob action (social media-wise), Semenitari, who boasts of the cleanest hands in office despite what she calls smear campaigns, was first to swear her name out. Her media aide, Bekee Anyalewechi, who said he had been inundated by inquiries over the allegations by Sagay, said: “This response is to state categorically that Semenitari did not purchase any vehicle during her period of service. She neither initiated nor approved any procurement for the purchase of any vehicle. Inquiries concerning the said cars should be directed at the current management and Board of NDDC.”
All eyes then reverted to the new CEO, a man who just took office in November 2016. His was even more soul-stirring as he said he and others were still using their private cars to work for the rich NDDC.
“Indeed, it is a known fact that the chairman, the distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), the Managing Director/CEO, Nsima Ekere, and the two Executive Directors are still using their private vehicles three months after assumption of duties,” Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, the head of media, said in a statement.
“The NDDC is only now in the process of acquiring work vehicles, and is adhering strictly to due process. These include five (5) Toyota Prado jeeps, 10 Toyota Hilux trucks, four (4) Toyota Land-Cruiser jeeps, one (1) Toyota Coaster bus and two (2) Toyota Hiace buses. The Commission has just received the Due Process Compliance Certificate from the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, and is preparing the mandatory memo for the approval of the Federal Executive Council,” he said.
The new NDDC reiterated its commitment to transparency by adhering strictly to processes and procedures of government “as espoused in the Board’s 4-R Initiative of restoring the Commission’s core mandate, restructuring the balance sheet, reforming our processes and reaffirming a commitment to doing what is right and proper at all times in facilitating the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region”.
The MD also said he was prepared to open the books to inspectors and auditors, saying the commission was partnering with Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and Open Government Partnership (OGP) to improve its governance systems, procurement and project implementation processes, in order to plug all loopholes and systematically eliminate all incidences of mismanagement and corruption.
When Sagay’s team responded, it sounded like an anti-climax. It was at this point that the spokesperson of the highly respected professor and PACAC chairman exonerated the present CEO, Ekere, and his immediate predecessor, Semenitari, from the N560m scam he opened up on earlier on.
Sagay came out to say he was referring to past administrations before Semenitari and Ekere. Dan Abia had served Buhari from May 29, 2015 to December 2015. Sagay said despite Buhari’s presence, the NDDC still did ugly things.
Sagay’s spokesman, Okon Eminue, also a professor, in a statement online, said: “To repeat myself for purposes of emphasis, Sagay’s allegation does not, in any way, pertain to the present Board and Management of NDDC under the leadership of distinguished senator, Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN (Board Chairman, NDDC) and His Excellency Obong Nsima Ekere (Managing Director, NDDC). The scam even came to limelight before Ibim Seminitari was appointed Acting MD, NDDC.
“To that extent Amu Nnadi’s stout defence of the present NDDC Board and Management is quite proper and correct. But it is one of the past Boards and Management of NDDC that the professor, Sagay, actually alludes to.”
It is transparency and use of due process system that can save a public office holder, especially a CEO. The NDDC is so volatile and accusations fly so fast and high that any CEO that deviates an inch would be torpedoed one time, especially in the present dispensation when no protection comes from Aso Rock or any rocks at all for office holders found in a mess.
Semenitari said she always insisted on due process and transparency at all times on every matter. In fact, all details and jobs were posted online so that community persons would know the details of projects and the contractors, especially level of funding, so they could compare with what they saw.
The new CEO, Ekere, is singing such song even louder, insisting on transparency, due process, and good reputation as new capital for the NDDC. Last week, he inaugurated a six-man committee to investigate allegations of corruption headed by Princewill Ekanim, director, Special Duties, and urged it to work without distraction and submit its report within two weeks.
He reiterated the new Governing Board and Management’s determination to restructure the commission’s balance sheet, restore its core mandate, reform all its governance processes and project implementation protocols, do what is right and proper at all times to give the Niger Delta region the commission it deserves.
Ignatius Chukwu
