Female contractors hold commissioner hostage

By Jethro Ibileke

December 11, 2009 02:43AMT


The Edo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Anita Iziegbe Evbuomwan, was held hostage in her office for close to two hours on Thursday by the female contractors who cooked for the state’s athletes in last year’s All Nigerian Sports Festival, “Kaduna 2008.”

The women, who numbered about 30, claimed that many of them took loans to execute the contracts, and had hoped that they will be paid on time to enable them settle their debts. They said to their disappointment, they are yet to be paid a penny since the competition ended.

Jounalists to the rescue

It took the intervention of four policemen and five journalists who were around the area to rescue the harassed commissioner from the angry protesters, who insisted on sleeping in the office. When journalists begged them to allow Ms. Evbuomwan to go to the governor’s office and present their case, they insisted on going with her, even forcing their way into her official car.

One of the contractors, Onome Agbama argued that since the government could raise money to host and reward the athletes, it had no excuse for not paying those who provided food for the athletes during camping and at the event proper.

Mrs Agbama said another contractor, a Mrs. Ogieva, is now down with hypertension and is presently on admission at the State Central Hospital. She said the woman had used her mother’s house as collateral to secure loans to execute the contracts. “Now, the time period for loan repayment has elapsed, and the house is now forfeited to the money lender,” she said.

The commissioner, who was close to tears and virtually on her knees, begged the angry women in their Bini dialect.

Not in the budget

The state’s commissioner for information, Abdul Oroh, whose office is directly opposite that of his Youths and Sports counterpart, said that the contract sum was not captured in the 2009 budget, and this delayed payment.

He however said that the matter has been reported to the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole.

The angry women who subsequently left the sports’ commissioner’s office were on their way to see the governor at press time.


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5494904-146/Female_contractors_hold_commissioner_hostage_.csp

I wonder how you will settle this one.

Come to think of it, how can one spend money not in the budget, who authorised it?

It would have been better you owed men, than women. You don enter this one!.

Its frustrating working for Government sometimes, They never care the source of the money,your bank will not skipped their interest rate because you are not paid.

Using house as a colateral to cook food, I wonder how much is that food contract.

Government should try and pay them, aggrement is agreement

All these chimp looking muderfuckers,their brains are more f-ucked up than their looks.The so-called government in nigeria is the greatest obstacle of the common man.They are rogues,yet people still refer them to as leaders

What do you expect of a government that spent 60% of 2009 budget on beautification.

http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/11122009/news/news2.html

Sometimes, I wonder if it is thesame antagonistic Adams Oshomole, that wanted every thing perfectly done to the benefit of the poor masses which he represented.

A critical look at Adams Oshomolie is that, he can act as a very good activist. He has the charisma, and commands respect. It is just unfortunate that, all these attributes does not make one a good politician. Politically, he lacks the prowess to execute all that he listed in his manifestos. He has the resources, and the man power, yet he is surrounded by political greeds, whose self interest is the states resources. Now, come to think of it, how can one make expenditures that does not have a face in the budget. In fiscal and monetary policy, it is called, budgetary irresponsibility.

brownbonno:

What do you expect of a government that spent 60% of 2009 budget on beautification.

http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/11122009/news/news2.html

Where is the facts for your claim!.

I don't believe that story. It is a lie. No government in her senses will do that. It a political news. Please facts from the government sources.

brownbonno:

http://www.nigerianobservernews.com/11122009/news/news2.html

My Guy, you need not go further, such government is already a failure. But I wonder if Comrade Adams really did this?.

2010 Budget can be downloaded here

http://www.edostate.gov.ng/2010budget.pdf

I don't want to be critical of that budget. I wish the state well.