A group of Deltans, under the aegis of Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Supplies and Maintenance Contractors Forum, has appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to approve the payment of over N100m owed contractors to save them from untimely and avoidable death.
DESOPADEC Supplies and Maintenance Contractors Forum made the appeal in a letter signed by Ekpagha Onoriode and Omatsali Ogharandukun, Chairman and Secretary of the forum and made available to journalists in Warri at the weekend.
They said N100m was the balance of contract and services rendered to DESOPADEC between 2007 and 2009.
According to them, the interventionist agency has failed to pay them the money in spite of outcry from members over the high rate of interest that accrued from loans taken from banks and other financial agencies to execute the contracts.
“We are pained once again to bring this issue to the press, but we have no option than to cry out to our governor for assistance before all our members will be forced to meet their ancestors.
“So many of our members have died without enjoying their labour; some are in the hospital while others have been incapacitated.
“We have made several efforts to make the management of DESOPADEC pay, all to no avail.
“However, at our last meeting with management, we were reliably informed that it is only Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, our amiable governor, that can pay us this money due to the current financial status of the commission.
“We hereby use this singular opportunity to appeal to Governor Okowa to use his good office to pay us the outstanding one hundred million naira owed us by DESOPADEC.
“Our members are dying. Please Givernor save us from early grave and pay us our outstanding.
“You are our last hope as we pray God to touch your heart and give you the enablement to meet our demand,” the statement noted.
The group, since the commission was set up to serve the people of the oil producing areas of the state from the 13 per cent derivation from crude oil income to ameliorate the hardship, bring succour and development to the area and to the people, it should do everything within its powers to live up to its responsibility.