Contractors numbering over 300 on Monday barricaded the premises of the Federal Capital Territory Administration protesting against the alleged diversion of COVID -19 funds meant for them by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola.
The protest led to the temporary disruption of the activities in the FCTA.
The contractors said they executed various COVID-19 contracts for the FCTA between March 2020 and April 2021 without being paid.
The over 300 angry contractors blocked the major entrances as early as 10 am to Area 11 where the offices of FCT Ministers and Permanent Secretary are located.
The spokesperson of the contractors, Emmanuel Nwachendu, said they would sustain the protest till their money was paid.
He said, “The accusation of N1m bribe before you are paid is true. This is one whole year after the supply. The agreement states that two weeks after the supply; once you supply, bring your invoice and you will be paid.
“This is one year running and nothing; we hear that each of the contractors has to pay N1m bribe to the Permanent Secretary before we can be paid, and that without the N1m bribe, you won’t get paid”.
According to them, the Permanent Secretary has been paying some of the contractors, especially those who reportedly agreed to give him N1m bribe.
They further alleged that they supplied various medical equipment and Personal Protective Equipment and other things used in containing the pandemic.
But the Permanent Secretary, Adesola, denied ever asking anybody for a N1m bribe, stressing that the delay in paying the contractors was due to their failure to meet all the administrative requirements.
0 Comments