Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has denied a media report that it is owing security workers their monthly salaries.
The interventionist agency stated that the security companies it engaged to hire security workers have been paid their money up to July, as at 22 August, 2023.
It therefore declared that there is no basis for the security companies to owe their workers arrears of salaries.
NDDC made the clarification in response to reports in the media that security workers of the Commission are threatening to carry out a peaceful protest over non-payment of their monthly salaries.
NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, stated this in a press release issued today.
‘We wish to state that the Commission engages security companies that hire and pay security guards to work at our various offices to safeguard our facilities.
“These service providers are certainly not being owed for six months as alleged in the media reports.
“The security companies for Delta and Rivers state offices, mentioned in the reports, have been paid up to July, as at August 22, 2023,” Ughakpoteni stated.
He further stated that the security companies therefore have no reason to owe their workers arrears of salaries.
He said the contract signed by the security companies with NDDC has a clause stating that they must have the capacity to pay their staff for, at least, two months in the event of any delay from the Commission.
“We want to assure the security workers that monies meant for payment of their salaries were not diverted to other businesses as being alleged.
“We, therefore, urge them to disabuse their minds of the misinformation in the media.
‘It is necessary to add that the Commission has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for corrupt practices.
“Any member of the public who has any evidence of such practices should reach out to the Commission for prompt action,” it was stated.
Ughakpoteni also reminded the people of the Niger Delta Tegion that the threat to protest at the Commission’s offices is no longer tenable.
He noted that genuine stakeholders in the region have since embraced peaceful engagements since the emergence of the Dr Samuel Ogbuku-led management team.
“It is noteworthy that, within a very short period of time, the Management team has laid the foundation for the rapid economic development of the region.
“It has put in place an enduring and sustainable governance structure for the effective operations of the Commission.
“We re-state that entrenching the tenets of accountability and transparency in our activities forms part of the thrust of the new Management.
“We assure our stakeholders and members of the public that the NDDC Management will not be distracted in its resolve to do things differently and make a difference in the Niger Delta,” it was stated in the release.
