- The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku (left), signs the Performance Management System bond during PMS retreat at the Commission’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt. With him are the NDDC Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai ( 2nd left); the resource person, Dr Achibong Offiong (2nd right) and the NDDC Director Planning and Statistics, Dr. Patterson Ogon
Emmanuel Ukudolo I Sunday, March 08.26
PORT HARCOURT – The days of “business as usual” at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are officially over. Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has fired a warning shot to staff, announcing a radical shift toward a tech-driven Performance Management System (PMS) that prioritizes results over seniority.
Speaking at a high-level retreat in Port Harcourt, Dr. Ogbuku revealed that the Commission is scrapping the outdated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) in favor of a modern Balanced Scorecard system.
This move, he says, is a direct response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” for a more efficient Nigerian public service.
In a move set to transform the workplace culture, the NDDC boss confirmed that promotions will no longer be a matter of routine. Under the new regime, advancement will be strictly performance-based.
”The implementation of the new system is crucial for achieving our nation’s development goals,” Ogbuku stated. “Promotions will henceforth be based strictly on performance.”
The reform isn’t just about paperwork; it’s a full-scale digital overhaul. Dr. Ogbuku announced that the entire Commission will be fully automated by the end of March.
Staff have been given a clear mandate: get computer literate or get left behind. “Every staff member must cultivate the habit of learning to be familiar with computer systems,” Ogbuku warned. “This is mandatory. Adaptability to the PMS is no longer optional.”
The new system focuses on both individual and organizational output. According to Dr. Patterson Ogon, Director of Planning and Statistics, the PMS will allow the Commission to:
Track progress in real-time.
Identify weak links and areas for improvement.
Make informed, data-driven decisions.
To ensure no one is left in the dark, Director of Admin and Human Resources, Mr. Kelechi Nwelue, confirmed that quarterly and annual assessments will be supported by specialized teams across all directorates to help staff transition.
Lead consultant Dr. Offiong Achibong summed up the mission simply: Excellence. The system is designed to reward hard work and measurable results, bringing the NDDC in line with global standards of accountability.
As the March deadline for full automation approaches, the message from the top is clear: the NDDC is stepping into the digital age, and only those who perform will thrive.
