Sylvester idowu in Warri
Contractors handling projects for the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) have urged the Delta State government to allow variations of their contracts to demonstrate fairness.
They hinged their stance on the depreciating value of naira and continued delay in adequate funding of project’s by previous administrators of the commission.
The Chairman of DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum, Ogie Samson, made the appeal weekend during the body’s Thanksgiving/End of Year party held at Durax Hotel and Suites, Jeddo near Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
He said members were facing serious challenges in the execution of projects due to the astronomical increase in prices of materials and stressed the need for the commission to allow for review of contracts.
Ogie said: “We the indigenous contractors are pleading with the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) to allow for contract variation where cogent and verifiable reasons are adduced because of inflation, since the commission is owing contractors heavily.”
Although, Ogie said the forum had received some favourable response, he however urged the management of the commission to keep to its promise as from January next year.
The DESOPADEC Indigenous Contractors Forum chairman noted that no union or association enjoys using protests to press home for genuine demands when the system works seamlessly.
He was full of praise to the Chairman of DESOPADEC, Hon. John Obukowho Nani, and the Execution Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Oghenekome Okpobor, for their urgent response to the forum’s complaints unlike before.
Ogie assured the management of the commission of mutual relationship in the coming year, all in an effort to hasten the development of the host communities in line with the mandate of the agency.
He commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his sterling performance since he assumed office in less than a year, expressing confidence that he will not disappoint the people of the state.
The forum chairman however urged him to deploy more fund to DESOPADEC to enable the commission bring the expected development to the oil producing areas in line with its mandate.
The highlight of the event was the Thanksgiving service held at Dunamis International Centre, Warri Centre along NPA expressway where Ogie said the service was designed to appreciate God by indigenous contractors.
