By Tejiri Ebikeme
THE Chairman of Itsekiri Development Congress (IDC), Mr Emmanuel Okotie-Eboh has called on the Federal Government to give Twenty- Five percent (25 %) mobilization to all contracts awarded by Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) in the Niger Delta region in order to fast track development in the region.
In Warri, Delta State, Mr Okotie-Eboh, a farmer and son of Nigerian first Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, while describing the recent directive of the Vice President that all Contractors handling projects, including those of NDDC should go back to site, as commendable, advised that Twenty-Five percent mobilization should be given to all contracts awarded by the Commission.
Mr Okotie-Eboh suggested that contracts earlier awarded in some areas and yet to be started as a result of lack fund to mobilize should be rewarded fresh and a 25% mobilization should be paid to contractors and added that;” “The recent directive given by the Vice President to all Contractors of the Commission to go back to site or face prosecution is a commendable one”,
According to him;”Most projects awarded in the last two years are yet to be executed, but if funds are made available these projects can be completed before the end of the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari and it would be a great credit to his administration. They should pay all the contractors that have done their jobs and also pay those ongoing projects for such jobs to be completed on record time”.
“I want to suggest that those contracts that have been awarded in some areas earlier that have not been started should be rewarded freshly and for the same areas that they are located and mobilization of 25% should be paid for them to take off; this will accelerate development and empowerment in the Niger Delta region. This will also help in bringing more peace to the area”, the IDC Chairman stated.
He added that; “The Federal Government should not think of even considering individual state development approach but should go ahead to implement development issues directly with the States , it will be a welcome development because we will now know who to hold responsible for the underdevelopment of the area then . We should not allow politics and selfishness to undermine the development of the Region”.
“There are no tangible projects on the ground to justify its existence and huge budget already spent, it is rumoured that debts to Contractors are in hundreds of billion Naira. Since 2015, most Contractors who got the contracts before the new board as political party patronage have not mobilized to site because of lack of funds and some did not go through due process and some can be rescued and mobilized for quick development of the region because none execution of these projects is delaying the needed development of the region”, Mr Okotie-Eboh said.
He advised the NDDC Board to devise a way to pay Contractors mobilization fee of at least 25% on every contract, adding that the Commission can demand advance payment guarantee from the Contractors so as to guarantee the advance fee.
“In this way, the contracts will be executed and the Contractors will benefit. Imagine the multiplier effect of the success of this policy in the region. The Commission will eventually succeed in developing the region and it’s people. If the contracts are awarded to the people and they are mobilized the contracts will be executed,the people will be happy and the restiveness in the area will gradually become history”, he stated.
VICE President Yemi Osinbajo recently asked contractors handling various projects in the Niger Delta region to return to site or face prosecution.
Also included were contractors handling projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Osinbajo specifically directed that the list of all contractors who did not comply with the directive within the stipulated period be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution.
A leading national daily Newspaper of Tuesday, March 21, 2017 reported NDDC directive to Contractors handling it’s projects to return to site.
