We will take the bull by the horns if no result next week, Itsekiri RDC contractors threaten

Contractors in the 23 communities that make up the Itsekiri Regional Development Committee, IRDC, established by Chevron Nigeria Limited, on Friday October 14, threatened to “take the bull by the horns”, if nothing positive is done by next week regarding money owed them for jobs executed.

The contractors, who stormed the IRDC Secretariat in Warri, before dispatching a delegation to Fresh Angle International’s Office, also in Warri, Delta State for media engagement, lamented: “Interests in the loan we took, are cumulating. We were supposed to offset the loan last month, till now, we have not been able to offset the loans and this month the interest is accruing”.

One of the contractors, Hon. Wilson Omajugho, who spoke to This Flagship Niger Delta Online Newspaper, on behalf of others, explained: “We are here, because they gave us contract and the award letters given to us, indicated that two weeks after receiving the award letter, if we don’t mobilize to site, the letter will be withdrawn from us.

“For that reason, we went ahead to borrow money to start the project, because they didn’t mobilize us. They (the leadership of IRDC) said we should go and source for money to execute the projects. The projects were awarded precisely in July, three months ago. The money we borrowed elapsed last month and we have done the jobs to the extent they ought to have paid us. They said we must get to the level of gable, before money will be paid and we have attained that level, they ought to have paid us about a month ago. When we called the management of IRDC, they will ignore our calls.

“We went to talk to them, but nobody responded. We went there in large number. We called the PRO (Prince Moses Fregene) he answered us in a good manner, promising to take up the matter to the executive, saying by next week, we will get a report”.

On speculations that the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited, may be considering handing over funds meant for IRDC to the expected Boards of PIA (Petroleum Industry Act) as it affects communities under the company’s area of operation, Hon. Omajugho, asserted: “I don’t see any veracity in that regard, there is no truth in it. The CEMB (Community Engagement Management Board) meeting, was supposed to be held fortnight ago, they postponed it to last week and it didn’t hold. They promised holding the meeting this week, again it was rescheduled.

“We are appealing to them (IRDC leadership) to pay us quickly, so we can pay up the loans we took. If they don’t pay us, they are putting our businesses at peril. Some of us have even completed our own (jobs awarded) and no kobo has been paid. IRDC gave out the projects and it’s supposed to be in the position to pay for jobs done. What will the PIA do with contract they didn’t award?”

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