Contractors of Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (IMSUBEB), yesterday, went on rampage protesting the “disappearance” of N540 million naira left in the coffers of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other grievances for SUBEB projects in the state.
The contractors also expressed displeasure over their negligence by the Imo state government and non-payment of 9 months salaries.
Some of their placards read “SUBEB Chairman, where is over N540 million left in CBN for SUBEB projects? “Chairman, where is the bided ETF/TETFUND project we bided for over 3 years ago? SUBEB is not honest, pay us now”
They further threatened to storm the National Assembly to stage more protest to enable both the Senate and House of Representatives intervene on the operations of Imo State Universal Basic Education Board.
Speaking with Journalists during the protest, the leader of the angry contractors and the Chairman of IMSUBEB Development partners Evan. Emma Ibe disclosed that his men are dying silently after proper presenting their grievances to the appropriate bodies such as the Governor, Commissioner for Education, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Imo State House of Assembly and IMSUBEB Chairman.
Ibe reiterated that they have buried two colleagues that died of hypertension in the course of the non-payment of salaries to enable them undertake proper medical attention before meeting their untimely deaths, adding that the immediate past administration left N540 million in CBN for the payment of their salaries. He alleged that the money was frittered away by officials of the present Administration.
He called on the Governor to pay them, adding that without infrastructural projects they have put in place, Imo free education programme cannot survive.
He however maintained that they have contributed immensely to the development of Imo State and as well deserve fair treatment.
Continuing, Evan Emma Ibe described their action as a strange gesture through which he said that government remain a continuous process, adding that government should not abandon any project initiated by its predecessor.
He expressed dissatisfaction over N500 million ETF Project awarded to Roche Company by SUBEB after bided the project with the in-house contractors, stating that the biding process did not follow due process.
He therefore called for the immediate sack of IMSUBEB Chairman, Dr (Mrs) Uche Ejiogu whose he said, has not been discharging her duties
