Contractors under the aegis of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Indigenous Contractors Forum, on Wednesday, protested the failure of the agency to pay for jobs executed by their members.
Also, the contractors complained about the refusal of DESOPADEC to review existing contracts in line with the current inflationary trend.
Wednesday’s protest had initially been scheduled by the forum for January 24, 2025, but the action was suspended following the intervention of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Delta State.
After a series of meetings between the aggrieved contractors and the management of the commission, the state command of the DSS directed that the leadership of the DESOPADEC meet with the angry contractors to resolve their grievances amicably.
Peeved by the refusal of the DESOPADEC management to meet with their members as directed by the DSS, the angry contractors today, stormed the commission’s headquarters, located along the Warri-Sapele Expressway, as early as 5 am with placards berating the management of the agency.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “DESOPADEC, we don’t want trouble, we need our money,” “Pay for contracts executed,” “DESOPADEC management feeding fat leaving contractors hungry,” We can’t access management for our payment,” and “We are not playing politics, just demanding for our rights,” amongst others.
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The angry contractors placed a coffin at the entrance of the commission, to express their frustrations over several efforts made to find an amicable resolution to their differences with the management.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of the DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum, Ogie Samson, said his members have never been treated well since the emergence of the present board and management of the commission.
He said the forum under his leadership, had tried severally to meet with the management of the commission to address various issues, including proper payment and variations of jobs but to no avail.
Ogie stated that he has tried everything possible to avert the protest by managing the grievances of members because of lack of payment, but regretted that the DESOPADEC board had yet to come to terms with their grievances.
The Secretary of the forum, Prince Charles Ebigbagha, lamented that it was not out of place to pay contractors for contracts executed, but that the commission’s management was terming it as anti -party even though it’s apparent that not all members of the forum belong to political parties.
“The Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori should intervene in this crisis to have a lasting solution to our plights.
“We tried to avert this protest but unfortunately the management might have told him we are being sponsored by a political party against him. That’s not true. We just want our payment issues to be addressed and that’s all,” he added.
