By Odeya Ogbetuo & Samuel Ogude
The Executive and Members of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission [DESOPADEC] Indigenous Contractors’ Forum have given two weeks ultimatum to the Board to pay them, failure which, they(Contractors) would embark on mass protest to press home their demand. The body handed down this ultimatum after rising from an emergency meeting in Warri, Delta State.
In a chat with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Chairman of the DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors’ Forum, Engr. Samson Ogie expressed disappointment over the new DESOPADEC Board’s delay in payment of Indigenous Contractors saying, this is happening despite the subtle approach made to it( Board) to make payment in order to avoid conflict or protest but all appeals fell on deaf ears.
His words:” The body has made several attempts to reach the Managing Director of DESOPADEC Hon. Festus Ochornogho and the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Hon. Okome on how payment could be carried out to avoid conflict between Indigenous Contractors and the 2023 DESOPADEC Board, but all efforts to harmonize the system were not successful because the Board was adamant”.
According to the Engr. Ogie, lack of payment of outstanding money and maltreatment of Indigenous Contractors is worrisome, saying that they have been patient with the Board just as he said they are expecting the Board to respond to payment before the end of September 2023. He therefore appealed to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to wade into the matter in order to avoid impending the Contractors’ mass protest at the expiration of the ultimatum.
His words:” We appeal to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to wade into the matter in order to avoid our mass protest at the aspiration of the two weeks ultimatum”.
On his part,the Secretary of the Indigenous Contractors’ Forum, Prince Charles Ebigbagha re-emphasized that the decision of the Exco should not be taken for granted saying if the protest of the aggrieved Indigenous Contractors’ is to be avoided , the Board should not fail to honour the Contractors’ request, saying if it ( Board) fails to do so, they(contractors) have no choice but to embark on mass protest. According to him, the Board promised to pay monthly but failed to honour its promise saying its inability to pay has put them in present imbroglio.
Also added voice is Mr. Felix Akpoyibo ,member of the Forum . He earlier suggested that body should immediately embark on protest to express their grievances but the Chairman Engr. Ogie however prevailed on him and other members of the body to exercise restrain until the expiration of set time which is end of September 2023.
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