Contractors bar Gov. Aliyu from commissioning project over debt

Contractors and workers at the Niger State Neo-Natal Maternity, an extension of the Minna General Hospital, on Wednesday barred the state Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, from commissioning the project over unpaid N41 million debt.
The protesters, who stormed the hospital, parked their vehicles to barricade the entrance despite the huge presence of security men.
According to one of the protesters, Mary Joseph: “We are protesting because the government has refused to pay us our money.
“The government is owing us over N41 million.
“I am owed N1.5 million after supplying stone-base for the road construction.
“We are 40 contractors and workers.”
Another supplier, Adebayo Bello, who supplied all the woods used for the house, said he is being owed N10,291,000 since the project started.
According to Adebayo: “The job is N39,921,000.
“So far they only paid me N28 million and they are owing me about N11 million after supplying all the woods that was used to construct this structure.
“When we spoke with DG SURE-P, Hassan Nuhu, he promised us that they are going to pay us within 24 hours since on Monday.
“Now it has elapsed and you know this government is going by Friday.
“After we spoke with the site supervisor, one Mr. Theo, he said he is discussing with the government and also the contractor.
“January 15 was the earlier promise and till this moment nothing has been given.”
The contractors and workers vowed to take the government to court should it fail to pay the money.
Accordingly, Adebayo said: “We are going to court if they fail to pay us our money.
“We will ensure the mutual commitment company that gave us the supply (the Chinese company) is taken to court.”
Another supplier, Mallam Ibrahim Shuabu, said: “I supplied the chippings, which included gravels.
“They are owing me N1.8 million as balance.
“The government said they are going to make an agreement with the Chinese contractor so that when they pay them, they can now deduct our monies from it.
“They kept lying to us that someone is at the bank sorting things out.
“All we know is that they must pay us before they commission this place.”
Obinna Emeka said: “We all collected loan from the bank.
“Most of us are not sleeping in our house anymore because we also borrowed money from some individuals.
“We are here now because we had meeting with the SSG and he assured us that by 8am today if we come here they will settle us, but we have been here since 7am and this is 12noon already.
“Now the SSS are harassing us.
“We are waiting for them to pay us our money first before they can commission the project.
“One of the labourers had his hands cut off by a motor machine and he is yet to be paid.”
Another worker said: “In China and other countries, this can not happen.
“In other states by now they would have settled us.
“With this, they are dubious.”