By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HAR-COURT— CONTRACTORS handling projects for Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, have kicked against the marching order from the commission to return to site within 30 days.

Speaking on the aegis of Contractors Association of NDDC, President of the body, Mr Joe Adia, who spoke for the contractors, yesterday, said it was unfortunate that the commission had not thought of how to clear huge debts owed contractors before coming up with the marching order.

He said the new board of the commission had not even met with contractors of the commission to know their plight before issuing a deadline to them, contending that many of their members had died as a result of the huge debt owed them by the commission for projects executed, noting that some members of the body had lost their property to banks due to unpaid loans used to execute jobs for the commission.

According to him: “The better approach is for them (NDDC) to have a meeting with us. We are the victims. We want to have audience with the management. Contractors are dying because they have not been paid for jobs done. They are sick. They are losing properties to banks. Since the last board by Mr Dan Abia there has been no mobilisation for contractors.

“We have to be heard to know the reason contractors are not on site. If you are owing us so much money and you are asking us to go to site, to do what. If you can’t meet with all the contractors meet with the executives of the association.”

Continuing, the contractors said they were largely disturbed that the commission was awarding fresh jobs when there are several abandoned projects all over the region due to challenges of funding.

“You are not thinking of resurrecting dead projects, yet you are awarding fresh ones. For us, this is the wrong time to do this. Treat the old projects to a reasonable extent before awarding new projects. We are crucial stakeholders because if anything happens to NDDC it is the contractors that are losing investment.”

It will be recalled that the Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, had recently ordered contractors handling projects of the commission to return to site within 30 days, saying it was part of the audit process ongoing in the commission.

If they are holding stakeholders meeting contractors should be there. A contractor told me four of his workers were killed on site in Ahoada, nobody is talking about it. Contractors are those that make NDDC known.”

It will be recalled that the Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, had recently ordered contractors handling projects of the commission to return back to site within 30 days, saying it was part of the audit process ongoing in the commission.