L-R: Member, PHCCIMA, Chief Paxy Elekema Publicity Secretary, PHCCIMA,, Chief Nabil Saleh, Oil and Gas Project Manager, Energy, Environment, Chemistry and Mining Department, Ubi France, Agness Hagyak, and President, PHCCIMA, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu, during the visit of French business delegates to Port Harcourt, facilitated by PHCCIMA,, and Total E&P at Banquet Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Egberi A. Smpson

Disengaged workers of Risonpalm Limited have threatened to take over the premises of the oil palm estate at Ubima in the Ikwerre local government area of the state for non-payment of their gratuities.
Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt recently, the Chairman of the disengaged workers, Mr. Jude Nwoka, revealed that more than three years after the palm oil company was leased to workers were yet to be paid their entitlements by the Rivers State government.
He said the workers decided to take the action in view of government’s failure in honouring previous promises made to the disengaged workers.
Nwoka further explained that  it was disheartening to note that even after a recent protest to Government House by the affected workers, government’s promise to address their grievance remains unfulfilled.
On the alleged recent claims by the Sole Administrator of Risonpalm, Mr. Mike Ejims Enwukwe, said that the disengaged workers had been paid over 90 per cent of their gratuities, Nwoka described the claim as untrue.
Efforts to speak with the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Emmanuel Chinda was not successful as an aide refered our Correspondent to the Sole Administrator of the company.
When contacted on phone, a source said the Sole Administrator was attending meeting and promised to have him call back.
Meanwhile, our correspondent did not receive any call as at the time of filling this report even as efforts to speak with the Public relations Officer of Siat Nigeria Limited, Mr. Lucky Ezihuo were equally unsuccessful.
The Rivers State Government had leased out the state-owned Risonpalm to a Belgian Agricultural development firm, SIAT Limited, for 35 years as part of its public private partnership programme.
The aim was to help resuscitate the near moribund outfit, serve as an avenue for creating more employment for Rivers indigenes while growing food production capacity in the state.