The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, on Thursday, launched an investigation into alleged job racketeering in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). 
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, while addressing the National Assembly, said there are series of petitions before his panel by aggrieved job seekers from the Niger Delta region, alleging that the NDDC’s management did not allow them to carry out any documentation despite issuing them original letters of employment.
Akinyelure said one of the petitions, signed by a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, alleged that employments into the NDDC are sold for various amounts depending on the financial strength of the applicant’s family. 
He said; “The former management of the NDDC carried out a lot of atrocities in that commission and our committee has advised Umana Umana and the new managing director to go deep and review all the issues.’’
“Cases of Nigerians that had been shortchanged and disenfranchised from working in the agency of government should be given employment immediately.''
“There are original employment letters before our committee. Many letters were issued to qualified Nigerians after they had passes both written and oral interviews but they were not allowed to resume.”
“There are original employment letters before our committee. Many letters were issued to qualified Nigerians after they had passed both written and oral interviews but they were not allowed to resume.’’
“We have their petitions before us and the man from the NDDC that testified before the committee that the letters were genuine, was later sacked by the management.’’
“There were massive cases of employment racketeering in the NDDC. Those who have genuine letters were not documented because they were asked to go and pay money that they could not afford.”
“Those who were perpetrating the illegality would now sell the employment to those who didn’t participate in any interview at all. They are already working there now.’’
The Chairman said the committee had absolved the incumbent Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, of the alleged job racketeering and all allegations contained in a separate petition that accused him of plotting to siphon N480bn NDDC funds lodged with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).