Niger Delta Human Development Report - UNDP Nigeria - United ...

appropriate investment promotion
measures, the facilitation of
industrialization and the boosting of
employment opportunities.
The Role of Regional Development
Bodies
The NDDC has an essential role in
promoting investment that increases
development should be properly expended,
with accountability and transparency. And
since part of social and community
responsibility is the strict adherence to the
tenets of public service, local populaces
should act as checks on public servants,
community leaders and the political elites
if they are not rendering the expected
services to the electorate or community.
Table 6.10: Average Ratings on Investment Climate Variables
S/No Variable
Average ratings Nigeria
1 Politics and political
22
2 System
1.6
3 Infrastructure
1.8
4 Economic policies
1.6
5 Regulatory controls
1.8
6 Security
2
7 Peaceful coexistence
1.8
Niger Delta
1.5
1.1
1.4
1.2
1.2
1.1
1.1
Source: Niger Delta Regional Master Plan Final Report on Investment PromotionStudy, Lagos. Resman Associates Ltd, 2005
sustainable livelihoods, especially through
the removal of obstacles such as the lack
of infrastructure. Since infrastructural
development is an area of major
preoccupation of the Commission,
accounting for a significant share of its
capital budget, it can make a meaningful
contribution by sustaining and increasing
the tempo of its work.
Unfortunately, local people view the
NDDC with great suspicion. They see the
Commission as an agent of the Federal
Government with a questionable loyalty
to the delta region. All the members of
the Commission are political appointees of
the Federal Government, which is
considered another glaring example of the
political exclusion of the people of the
Niger Delta. They have no popular
representation in the major organs of
government that make decisions touching
their lives and livelihoods, and wonder why
at least some NDDC members are not
elected or selected in some way by local
people. Moving forward, the Commission
should embrace a fully participatory
approach.
At the same time, people at the grass-roots
should demand more accountability from
their elected or appointed representatives
in general, but also in terms of the
implementation of particular development
projects. Funds meant for community
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Livelihoods from the Oil and Gas
Industry
A policy effort to significantly improve
employment and reduce conflicts in the
Niger Delta must include the expansion of
opportunities in the oil and gas industry
for youths, women and able-bodied
members of the labour force. Despite
discussions about creating alternative
livelihoods, many people are most
interested in working in the oil and gas
sector so that they can benefit from its
proceeds, which they see have enriched
many Nigerians and foreigners alike. Any
agenda aimed at generating sustainable
livelihoods in the Niger Delta must seek
ways to increase local involvement in this
industry.
Communities have frequently complained
that oil companies don’t hire permanent
staff, or in some cases sufficient personnel,
or even employ casual labour from the
host community for construction work or
other projects. A common response from
oil companies has been that skilled workers
are only employable on merit and must
possess formal qualifications (see Human
Rights Watch, 1999; p. 17). According to a
focus group discussions participant,
however, even with the proper
qualifications, local residents might not be
employed by the oil companies. Two
participants said:
Investment climate is
critical to
industrialization,
investors however
consider the Niger Delta
to be less attractive for
investment.
People view the NDDC
with great suspicion. To
ease this, the Commission
should adopt fully
participatory approaches
to its work.
People at the grass-roots
should demand more
accountability from their
elected or appointed
representatives.
Men and women need
skills they can use in the
oil and gas industry, the
centrepiece of the delta
economy.
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