DESOPADEC MD FIGHTS BACK, SHUTS DOWN HEADQUARTERS

Aftermath of the protest by aggrieved staff of the Delta State Oil
Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) last Monday which
led to the disruption of the operations at the headquarters of the
Commission in Warri, the Managing Director of the outfit, Williams
Makinde, last weekend ordered the shutdown of the facility.
Daily Times gathered that the closure was neccesitated by the need to
safeguard the properties and other valuables of the commission which
some miscreants could destroy using the opportunity of the bedlam to
cause the havoc,
Though he denied owing the workers salaries, the embattled Managing
Director promised to address the issues raised by the staff at the
appropriate time.
It would be recalled that aggrieved staff of the DESOPADEC had earlier
last week shutdown activities at the commission’s headquarters over
what they alleged to be non-payment of “13point” bonus (christmas
bonus)for the year 2016 as well as other welfare allowances.
The staff, who carried placards with inscriptions such as,” Governor
Okowa pay attention to DESOPADEC Staff Welfare”, “Pay Pensioneers
their money” ” Okowa Where is our 13 point bonus?”” We need our
promotion for the past 8years”, chanted solidarity songs and danced
through the Esisi office of the commission to its headquarters
adjacent to the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Delta.
In a chat with Daily Times, one of the staff, Comrade Darlington
Erhijakpor had disclosed that the staff of the Commission are going
through hardship as a result of the non-payment of the 13 point bonus
by the Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa’s led administration.
He also noted that the DESOPADEC Staff and Pensioneers have not been
been paid their salaries and gratuities.
“We don’t know where our pension goes to after they deduct our monies
at the end of every month,” he stated.
He accused the government of  hiding under the cloak of recession as
well as failing to show concern to their welfare which according to
him is their fundamental right. He however warned that the DESOPADEC
Head Office remains shut until Governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa os ready
to pay attention to their plights including their welfare.