Scores of contractors of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, yesterday, barricaded the gate of the Commission over N2 trillion debts owed them for close to ten years.
The contractors, under the aegis of Contractors Association of the Niger Delta Commission, also demanded for the constitution of a board for the Commission.
It will be recalled that another group, the Wailing Women of Niger Delta, WWND, blocked the entrance of the NDDC over the non constitution of a board for the Commission by the Presidency.
Some of their banners read, ” Change is now”, “Senator Godswil Akpabio, contractors are dying, Pay our contractors”.
The Chairman of the Association, Joe Adia, “The point is that there must be an end to this evil. They have been owing us over N2 trillion for 10 years. are saying that will be the last time the NDDC will keep shortchanging the destinies of contractors in the commission.
“We want them to pay us and we want them to constitute a board. Let them bring the board. Is there anything wrong with this commission? One man running this commission does not make sense. They should come and inaugurate the board.
“And how can contractors survive? They are dying because as far back as 10 years, they are still owing contractors till today; even the little ticket jobs of N5 million, they are still owing till today – which means they are not interested in paying contractors.
“This protest will continue because we are the victims and we have to say we do not want to die for jobs that we have done. They have to pay us our money, he laments.”
