STOP UNDUE PRESSURE ON CONTRACTORS: NDDC CHARGES HOST COMMUNITIES OF ITS PROJECTS.
SAYS PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS, SOMETIMES BASED ON LACK OF INFORMATION.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC has decried what it
described as undue pressure on its contractors in some of the projects
sites by host communities who are found of making unfair demands before a
project could be executed.
The Member Representing Edo State on the board of the commission, Hon Saturday Uwuilekhue who expressed the concern at a meeting with contractors and consultants handling NDDC projects in Edo state, attributed the development as one of the major reasons why some of the projects were not executed as fast as they should, stressing "every stakeholders, including Contractors, Consultants and Host Communities of NDDC projects must collaborate at ensuring timely execution of projects".
Hon Uwuilekhue, flanked by the Edo State Director of NDDC, Mr Seigha Glasgow and some other management staff, said "some of the projects that were not progressing as fast as they should are stalled by activities of communities who make unfair demands on the Commission either in form of unnecessary compensation or in requesting for the execution of some aspects of the contract that are obviously beyond their capabilities".
"Before I assumed this office I never quite appreciated the efforts of the Commission in achieving its mandate of developing the Niger Delta region, but having visited some of the projects sites being handled by the Commission across the state, I have now realized that NDDC is doing so much to better the lives of the people ", Hon Uwuilekhue added.
He maintained "those saying that the Commission is not doing enough, make such assertions based on the information at their disposal. I therefore use this opportunity to call on anyone interested to take time to visit different projects of the Commission before drawing conclusions", reiterating his preparedness to work with all tiers of government and other developmental agencies, at ensuring that the people of Edo state get maximum benefit of being an oil producing state, even as he thanked the governor, Godwin Obaseki for his support.
The Commissioner said he called the meeting to strengthen partnership among critical stakeholders, saying " I am not unaware of the huge debt profile the present board inherited which is affecting its ability to pay as at when due but we are tackling the issue systematically and as well as check the mistakes of the past in line with President Buhari's charge to the board ".
Hon Uwuilekhue thanked all for their useful contributions and urged them to help change the narrative of the developmental strides of the NDDC as the Commission was doing well to promote peace and development in the Niger Delta region despite the obvious challenges.
The Edo State Director of the NDDC, Mr Seigha Glasgow stressed the need for projects to be executed in line with specifications, affirming that staff of the state office of the commission were well knowledgable in providing necessary support to assist in delivering quality jobs.
He said some of the challenges faced by the contractors were caused by them, pointing out that it was wrong for a contractor to mobilize to site without liaising with the state office to do the proper handing over of project site with all parties involved especially the communities, participating in the exercise.
Some of the Contractors who spoke appreciated the Commissioner for providing a forum among stakeholders to chart a way forward for the progress of NDDC projects in Edo state, emphasizing that they were ready to deliver effectively in so far as the Commission meets up with its part of the contractual agreement.
They implored the Commission to revisit the value of the contract items in line with the present economic realities, noting that the cost of raw materials and labour have increased by over two hundred percent thereby making it impossible for them to deliver on the projects awarded to their firms.
The Member Representing Edo State on the board of the commission, Hon Saturday Uwuilekhue who expressed the concern at a meeting with contractors and consultants handling NDDC projects in Edo state, attributed the development as one of the major reasons why some of the projects were not executed as fast as they should, stressing "every stakeholders, including Contractors, Consultants and Host Communities of NDDC projects must collaborate at ensuring timely execution of projects".
Hon Uwuilekhue, flanked by the Edo State Director of NDDC, Mr Seigha Glasgow and some other management staff, said "some of the projects that were not progressing as fast as they should are stalled by activities of communities who make unfair demands on the Commission either in form of unnecessary compensation or in requesting for the execution of some aspects of the contract that are obviously beyond their capabilities".
"Before I assumed this office I never quite appreciated the efforts of the Commission in achieving its mandate of developing the Niger Delta region, but having visited some of the projects sites being handled by the Commission across the state, I have now realized that NDDC is doing so much to better the lives of the people ", Hon Uwuilekhue added.
He maintained "those saying that the Commission is not doing enough, make such assertions based on the information at their disposal. I therefore use this opportunity to call on anyone interested to take time to visit different projects of the Commission before drawing conclusions", reiterating his preparedness to work with all tiers of government and other developmental agencies, at ensuring that the people of Edo state get maximum benefit of being an oil producing state, even as he thanked the governor, Godwin Obaseki for his support.
The Commissioner said he called the meeting to strengthen partnership among critical stakeholders, saying " I am not unaware of the huge debt profile the present board inherited which is affecting its ability to pay as at when due but we are tackling the issue systematically and as well as check the mistakes of the past in line with President Buhari's charge to the board ".
Hon Uwuilekhue thanked all for their useful contributions and urged them to help change the narrative of the developmental strides of the NDDC as the Commission was doing well to promote peace and development in the Niger Delta region despite the obvious challenges.
The Edo State Director of the NDDC, Mr Seigha Glasgow stressed the need for projects to be executed in line with specifications, affirming that staff of the state office of the commission were well knowledgable in providing necessary support to assist in delivering quality jobs.
He said some of the challenges faced by the contractors were caused by them, pointing out that it was wrong for a contractor to mobilize to site without liaising with the state office to do the proper handing over of project site with all parties involved especially the communities, participating in the exercise.
Some of the Contractors who spoke appreciated the Commissioner for providing a forum among stakeholders to chart a way forward for the progress of NDDC projects in Edo state, emphasizing that they were ready to deliver effectively in so far as the Commission meets up with its part of the contractual agreement.
They implored the Commission to revisit the value of the contract items in line with the present economic realities, noting that the cost of raw materials and labour have increased by over two hundred percent thereby making it impossible for them to deliver on the projects awarded to their firms.
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