By Princely Onyenwe, Imo
Contractors attached to Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC are calling on the federal government to interven on their demands for the Commission to pay them their services charge owed for over five years.
President of the association, Andrew Ijegbai, lamented that for over five years, the contractors had not been paid for the services they rendered to the commission, describing it as an act of wickedness.
Our correspodent reports that this caused the barricade by the aggrieved contractors at the corporate headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on over the weekend.
They appealed to President Buhari to direct the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the NDDC Managing Director, Pastor Effiong Akwa to pay the debts owed them.
Ijegbai said they used their money to execute the projects, adding that despite inaugurating them, NDDC had refused to pay them.
He said: “We are here because we have done jobs for NDDC for the past four years we have been waiting for our payment, but they are giving us all kinds of excuses.
“As it stands, we can no longer afford our children schools fees. We collected most of the money from financial institutions and we used our houses as collateral. The banks are now collecting our houses.
“We have pleaded; we have gone to Abuja to no avail. NDDC has not been like this. Before, once you earn your IPC you will be paid but we don’t know what is happening since the inception of this present board.
They bore placards with inscriptions such as “NDDC pay us our money,’’ “ The pain is much‘’ “Our cry is loud” NDDC Contractors are dying”, amongst others.
The president of the association, Andrew Ijegbai, however lamented that for over five years, the contractors have not paid their bills and attending to family responsibilities while calling on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the NDDC Managing Director, Pastor Effiong Akwa to pay NDDC contractors.
Director of Board of Trustees, Prince Victor Fakar, said they would continue the protest until the commission pays them.
On sighting the contractorsead Corporate Affairs department, Ibitoye Abosede, declined comments at the time of this protest.
“We will continue this protest. He (Akwa) feels he is everything. If he gives his words he should hold on to it. He promised to pay in December but we did not get anything.
“Akwa said in Abuja, that he is not the one owing us. If a contractor signs an agreement with NDDC, that contract is binding on the next MD or board, they must pay you.”
This has attracted sympathy from various individuals and companies who see Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC as a strong fold having recieved regular allocation from federal government to cussion its payments.
The union are strongly calling on President Buhari to intervene and prevail on the NDDC to pay their money.
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