By EgbemaVoice,
A human rights group, the Ijaw People's Development Initiative,IPDI has called on Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene in the ongoing crisis between DESOPADEC and its Indigenous Contractors' Forum over non-payment of contracts.
The group in a statement signed by its national president Comrade Ozobo Austin said this issue has been brewing for some time, with contractors threatening to protest and picket DESOPADEC offices if the matter isn't resolved.
He said the contractors had been seeking for Oborevwori's intervention in addressing the non-payment of contracts, which had caused significant hardship for the contractors _coupling with increasing bank debit files for loans sought for the execution of such contracts but the governor had been snubbing them.
The statement reads, "It is shameful and disappointing that the governor remained mute "about the outcries of the DESOPADEC contractors. He is expected to play a mediatory role if DESOPADEC is truly an independent state interventionist agency. But in this case the governor is automatically involved in the imbroglio because there is no independence in the affairs of the commission.
"I don't think Delta State is too poor to an extent it can't pay petty contracts, if it is an inherited debts, he should talk to them on how such debts will be cleared in no distance time. His actions are poor. Maybe the debts were owed by the previous administration and he didn't want to pay. But he should be reminded that he was part of the previous administration, and the previous administration bankrolled him to be the Governor of the state, so why will he not pay such debts, that can only happen in a banana Republic", Ozobo noted.
"I am worried about whether DESOPADEC is still getting 50 percent of the 13 percent derivation in Delta State, if it is getting it I believe there would be more funds for the commission to service all these contractors debts and award more contracts. I am suspecting that there is something fishy in the commission, hence the commission is epileptic and suffering from oratory-cancer" -the group added.
"It is our humble appeal that the Governor should endeavour to address the aggrieved contractors in immediate effect to avoid escalation of the matter. If it is not resolved, we will mobilise Delta State civil society organisations in solidarity to join the proposed protest to cripple activities of the commission", -IPDI emphasised.
The group is urging the governor to use his office to find a solution to the crisis, which would help to alleviate their suffering and ensure that they're fairly compensated for their work.
However, the IPDI's appeal to Oborevwori is a clear indication that the situation needs urgent attention to prevent further escalation.
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