NNDC warns against sub-standard jobs.

NNDC warns against sub-standard jobs.

… vows to pay only high-quality deliveries

By Faith Kordoo

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged contractors carrying out its projects to return to their various sites and ensure that they meet the required standards for quality jobs before they can qualify for payment.

According to a statement by the NDDC’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, the Rivers State Representative on the NDDC Board, Hon. Tony Okocha, stated this during an interactive session with stakeholders and contractors at the Commission’s State Office in Port Harcourt, where he insisted that contractors who failed to meet the required specifications would not be paid for the projects.

Okocha, however, acknowledged the concerns of the contractors over delays in the payment for completed jobs, indicating that the Commission might consider an upfront mobilization fee for contractors to enable them to fast-track their jobs.

He also revealed that he would soon commence inspection visits to project sites with the Commission’s engineers for on-the-spot assessment.

“I am not an armchair administrator who will sit in the office to listen to reports. I am coming to your sites with my team of competent engineers to assess the work you are doing, and if you find the work to be substandard, you will have yourself to blame as the current NDDC Board will not compromise on standards, Okocha stated.”

Speaking further, the state representative stressed that the commission would execute projects and programmes in line with the renewed hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, which he maintained means well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

Okocha noted that the NDDC’s Project Monitoring and Supervision Directorate would deploy automated machines for proper documentation and filing to take advantage of its numerous benefits.

He reiterated his unwavering commitment to serve the people as the Rivers State Representative on the NDDC board, assuring that there would be no preferential treatment in terms of payment.
“We will create a table of contractors that actually worked and are deserving of payment for their efforts, Okocha promised.”

Also speaking at the session, one of the contractors, Chief Tony Maduabuchi, appealed to the Federal Government to urgently remove the NDDC, being an interventionist body, from the Treasury Single Account, TSA, which he said was preventing contractors from getting proper funding from the Commission.

He further thanked the NDDC for creating an avenue for contractors and other stakeholders to discuss how to move the region forward.