By: Felix Ikpotor
Some Niger Delta students under the aegis of Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG) on Wednesday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in Port Harcourt over what they termed as poor welfare packages for students in the region.
The protesting students bearing placards with several inscriptions such as “NDDC under Akwa has failed”, “Niger Delta students deserve better welfare packages” amongst others, also demanded that the agency be transferred from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs back to the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF.
According to a protest letter by the leader of the students, Comrade Goodness N-Epba and sighted by this publication NIDSUG also demanded that:“ for effectiveness, the NDDC should be relocated back to the office of SGF where it has previously performed more than now that it is under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. This will allow the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to concentrate on his Ministry’s responsibilities”.
“NDDC scholars abroad who are owed their tuition and allowances be paid in full, NDDC hostels built across the region and abandoned to decay are completed, and that political method of completing it should be avoided, especially selecting ones that favour political interest, that local scholarship and bursary for Niger Delta students should begin”.
Other demands by the students includes trainings, workshops, and impactful programs sponsorship for Niger Delta students, provision of welfare packages, union bus, and students incentives.
The protesting students however, after a meeting with the leadership of the agency and the Commissioner of police Rivers State, Friday Eboka agreed to suspend the protest and allow the commission a period of two weeks to address the issues raised.
They threatened to resume the strike if after the break period no tangible effort is made to meet their demands.
