…Blames companies for reneging on MoUs with communities
Following the 14-day ultimatum handed over to the management of NPDC/Elcrest joint venture oil company Ltd to address a 7-point demand by Egbema Youth Council, (EYC) in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State recently, the Executive Chairman of the Council, Hon. Smart Asekutu has waded into matter to calm down the youths while he called on the oil company to respect the GMoUs with the Communities and deliver on other corporate social responsibilities due to them.
Egbema Youth Council in a press statement signed by its President-General, Comrade Ebidouwei M. Miyenpirigha, Engr. Lawoni G. Dumofaye, Secretary-General, Governor Ekpokeme, National Public Relations Officer, had issued a 14-day ultimatum within which the oil company should meet a 7-point demand made on behalf of the Communities or risks shuttinng down its operation in the area.
The 7-point demand made by the youth body include an upward review of the numbers and stipends for the award of the scholarship quota base, for secondary, undergraduates and by extension post graduates level in accordance with “article 2.1 sub-section B) of the GMOU between NPDC/Elcrest Nigeria Limited Joint Venture and Host and imparted Communities in OML40; Infrastructural projects should be built in the host and imparted Communities in OML40 catchment Areas with the 60% fund for capital projects as highlighted in article 6.1 such as Community water projects, Farm establishment, Blocks of Classroom and Teachers Quarters, Market, Palace of Traditional Rulers, etc. and Community Representative Committee (CRC) should be constituted immediately in order to address proper and effective representation in our area and a credible representative in your firm for more accountability and transparency in accordance with “Article 2.1 sub-section (G and J) and Article 3.3” as stated in the GMOU.”
Other demands made by the youth body include Allowances/Stipends to be given to the central youth body and all the cluster communities youth leadership in accordance with “Article 2.1 sub-section S” for our administrative purposes.
“Moreover, homage should be paid to Egbema traditional institution appropriately; employment opportunities to be created for our Youths in your company as permanent and managerial staff at the head office in Benin and branch office at Warri as leverage to cushion the devastating effect of being idle and to make our Youths meaningfully engage; immediate implementation and payment of the three (3) percent welfare fund for our traditional ruler as stipulated in article 6.1 of the Global Memorandum of understanding between NPDC/Elcrest Nigeria Limited Joint Venture and the host Communities in OML40 and finally, approval of cluster Communities and among other things that an urgent review and rejig for the pipeline surveillance contract that had solitarily been awarded to Ocean Marine Solutions Limited without youths inclusion as stakeholders who are familiar with the nooks and crannies of the creeks where oil installations/facilities situate.”
In an exclusive telephone interview with the Warri North Local Government Council chairman over the threat of ultimatum, Hon. Asekutu blamed the management of NPDC/Elcrest Joint Venture Company Ltd of reneging on its responsibilities to the affected host communities.
Asekutu who was fuming with rage during the interview noted that the oil operating company was just courting trouble by refusing to engage with the communities and the Council, adding that the Company has failed to put to contest the loss it will incur for just one day protest by the communities.
According to the chairman, in the interest of peace and safety, the Council has intervened to try and engage the executive of the youths and communities to calm down while it continues to get the management of the company to a round-table meeting to iron out their grievances.
In Asekutu’s words: “In line with what I have said before, the NPDC/Elcrest company have not recognized and appreciated what the locals are doing to assist their operations, especially the local government. They are beginning to be elusive and renege from their corporate social responsibility. In times like this, how much can we do as a local government? In the past, we have stood in the gap for the company and at the end of the day, the communities will be seeing us as if we are taking side with the company to maltreat them. This is not true. We just need a peaceful environment. Our responsibility is to maintain peace to ensure that both parties operate and function amicably. But where a party is always treating the others with deceit and shying away from their responsibility, it is not commendable at all. However, we will always continue to maintain peace. I’m even trying now to identify the people that gave this ultimatum to further discuss with them on what has changed and what is necessitating this action at this time. So, we are doing our best. We have written some letters lately again to the companies concerned and we are hoping that they will do the needful by responding to us so that, together, we will be able to attend to all upcoming issues so that operations in the area will not be disrupted and any form of action that will threaten the peace of the local government will be avoided. That is what we are doing right now.
He continued: “We had earlier expressed our displeasure over the company’s failure to give the needed attention to the Council. We are out there to ensure a peaceful environment for them to operate. If there is any organization or body that they should lean on to, it is the Council. This is because we also report to higher authorities and we should be able to flow with them on the same base. We are very much in touch with the locals all the time and they speak to us freely because they know that we are not biased and that we will listen to them and be able to advise them rightly in the right direction. And so, they keep talking to us. And when we see issues that are genuine, we will also want to share with the companies in good time for them to plan and address the situation. But here, we will send for them, they will not come; we will go to them they will not come out to see us. I think they have another intention; may be a better way to address their issue and ours is to make sure that no party disrupts the peace of the Council. And so, when you don’t manage things well and by the time there are problem you come to us, I don’t know what you want from us.”
All effort to get the management of NPDC/Elcrest to respond to these burning issues have so far proved abortive.
