By Izunna Okafor, Awka

Indigenous Contractors in Anambra State, have called on the State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Willie Obiano to pay them for the contract of rehabilitation of roads in various parts of the state, which they executed in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The contractors made this known to newsmen in Awka the State Capital, via an official interaction, during which they also highlighted some of the efforts they have made so far to secure the payment, which they said, all proved futile.

According to them, the jobs was given to then without issuance of award letters, hence, they were lured to do the jobs under the agreement and deal of 'Complete Your Job and Get Paid', even without mobilization cost.

They further noted that they did the work in utmost good faith, being firmly optimistic that they would get paid as soon as they finished the work. They confessed they based their trust, confidence and optimism on Governor Willie Obiano's track record in prompt payment of workers' salaries in the state since he came into power, and on his clearing off arrears previously owned by the state, among various feats he has recorded in various sectors of the state as a man of his word.

They however expressed shock that since the completion of the jobs in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, no contractor among them has received any payment till date.

The contractors revealed that they failure of the government to pay them the money on the completion of the rehabilitation works as promised, has not only made life 'very hard' for them and their families, but has also thrown them into a deep pool of indebtedness to the various financial institutions from which they borrowed huge sum of money to execute the projects.

The interest accruing from the borrowing, they also disclosed, has skyrocketed over the years thereby warming up to unconcernedly claim a huge chunk of the money when finally released.

They therefore pleaded with Governor Willie Obiano, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Marcel Ifejiofor and other concerned principal officers and agencies to promptly run to their rescue, give the required urgent attention to their ordeal, and facilitate the release of the money as promised.

They said, "Despite how long this money has tarried, we are still optimistic and hopeful that our able Governor, Akpokuodike is still a man of his word which we know him to be earlier before accepting to embark on these rehabilitation works on the 'Complete Your Job and Get Paid' term. So, we believe he would not allow this tarry any further or allow us to remain indebted and suffer hard times like this because of the developmental works we did in utmost good faith. No! Our Governor is not that kind of person, and that is why we calling on him as the Akpokuodike Global to please rise and act on our challenge."

While appreciating the Governor for the opportunity to execute the road rehabilitation projects in the state, they reiterated their entreaty to him, to please wade into the situation and direct the concerned ministry to see to the immediate release of the fund owed to them, so it won't make them to begin regretting the age-long trust they, their workers and families reposed in him and his administration over the years, particularly on his promptness of payment, and his developmental strides across the state.