By Ise-Oluwa Ige

The Contractors Association and the indigenous Contractors Association of Niger Delta of NDDC have threatened to sue the International Oil Companies operating in the Niger Delta region for allegedly refusing to remit the three percent contribution to the NDDC.

They lamented that the trend has continued for over five years, thereby slowing down the implementation of projects for the good of the Niger Delta people.

The President of the Contractors Association Sylvester Tonye, in a statement issued in Abuja, disclosed this, noting that  there is an urgent need for Tinubu to prevail on the IOCs to fulfil their responsibilities to the commission.

The statement also called on President Bola Tinubu to exclude the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) from the Treasury Single Account to enhance speedy execution of projects in the region.

The statement reads, “As a concerned association, we will not hesitate to institute legal action against the IOCs if, at the end of August this year, they refuse to remit their dues to the commission.

“It is very clear that contractors are being owed by the commission because of the inability of the oil majors to pay their dues to the commission.

“In this regard, we call on Mr. President to consider exempting the NDDC from the Treasury Single Account system. Such an exemption would enable the NDDC to operate more efficiently and effectively, thereby enhancing its performance and impact on the region.”

Meanwhile, Comrade Tonye has commended president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former president Goodluck Jonathan, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his team and traditional rulers on the recent summit held in Port Harcourt for championing accelerated development to the Niger Delta region. 

He also hailed the MD for putting up the summit after some years of negligence and vowed to make his administration succeed.