Contractors Protest Non-payment For Contracts

Contractors handling various projects for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Tuesday in Abuja protested against the non-payment of debts of more than N7 billion for jobs done from 2008 to 2011.

Our correspondent  reports that the protesters, members of the Association of Contractors to the Nigeria Police, went round the Federal Secretariat premises with placards and chanted protest songs.

The spokesman for the protesters, Mr Patrick Ojo, told newsmen that the contractors had been working since 2008 without receiving any tangible amount from the ministry.

According to him, the money is supposed to be paid in instalments, starting with contractors who are owned less than N3 million.

“Some of our contractors have contacted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and he has ordered payment of the money about six weeks ago, but nothing has been done since then; money was released for the work done in 2011 but no payment has been made to us.

“Government voted money for community policing but the minister said the money is finished. What we need is for our money to be paid,’’ he said.

According to him, what caused the protest was the sluggish responses of the Director of Finance of the ministry, Mr Adebowale Karaki, to pay N2.1 billion in accordance with an agreement reached between the ministry and the contractors.

Hajiya Binta Shagamu, a building materials contractor, told our correspondent – that she used her house in Kaduna as collateral for a loan she got from a bank to execute the project given to her.

“My own job is renovation of houses; my company name is Sarafina Nigeria Ltd; they say no money and that was why I borrowed money to execute all the work given to me.

Mrs Chichi Okoroafor of Vanchok Ltd Contractor Company faulted ministry officials for the non-payment of their money.

Okoroafor alleged that the officials awarded contracts to their companies and pay the money to themselves, ignoring those without a godfather.

She called on the ministry to investigate the matter, stressing: “How can we be borrowing money from the bank and they will not pay us.’’

Meanwhile, the Minister of Police Affairs, retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, has directed the director of finance to pay the contractors their money within two weeks.

The directive followed a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the association,

The minister warned that failure to commence payment within two weeks would lead to sanctions.