The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commenced payment of backlog of money owed its contractors that have executed projects for the commission.
The Special Adviser to the Sole Administrator of the commission on Youths Affairs, Engr. Udens Eradiri, who disclosed this while speaking to aviation correspondents on arrival from Abuja on Monday, said the payment has begun.
He said the commission was doing everything possible to ensure that contractors are mobilised back to site, and that those that genuinely executed contracts for the commission are paid.
He also disclosed of the commission’s readiness to give priority attention to university projects, saying contractors handling such projects will be mobilised back to site.
“We are looking at the university projects, particularly the hostels on campuses, to ensure that they are completed, so as to tackle shortage of hostel accommodation.
“Hostel accommodation is important because it will enable students to stay on campus. Many of them are involved in some criminal activities because they are staying off campus, but when they stay on campus, they might not have the time for that”, he said.
On the ongoing forensic audit at the commission, the special adviser stated that the audit was an in-house thing, but added that the commission was poised to complete the exercise as soon as possible.
Udens said the result of the forensic audit would be made public on or before May, this year.
Reacting to the payment of backlog of money owed contractors, one of the contractors to the NDDC in Rivers State, Chief Jasper Jumbo, thanked the NDDC management for rising up to the occasion and expressed hope that the commission would address all other challenges facing the contractors.

By: Corlins Walter