The Oil and Gas Pipelines Host and Impacted Communities Surveillance Forum, SEPLAT OML 4, 38 and 41, has given a 21-day ultimatum to the management of SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc to address some basic issues contained in the communiqué given to the company or face the consequences of failure to comply.
This decision was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State and signed by all the chairmen of the host and impacted communities where SEPLAT operates.
The forum stated that the job of community pipelines surveillance were single source and that the various surveillance contracts and indigenous contracts belong to the community and as such, could not be awarded to other contractors as this might lead to unnecessary strife and rivalry in the various communities where SEPLAT operates.
Expressing dissatisfaction at the attitude of SEPLAT, the President of the Forum, Mr. Samson Kekakpor and all other chairmen of the host communities, described the company’s action as unacceptable.
The forum, while demanding the upward review of salaries of surveillance guards to N150, 000 monthly as against the N25,000 and N28,000 also called for the increment of salary of access control and fire men who are contract staffs respectively paid by SEPLAT for the past seven years.
They equally resolved that, “SEPLAT must adhere to the GMoU signed in OML 4, 38 and 41 between SEPLAT Development Company Plc, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Ltd and the Hosts Communities in 2016.
The forum also demanded that SEPLAT should relocate its headquarters to the Niger Delta region where it operates in line with Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo’s directives, the immediate implementation of the local content act in projects execution; noting that the practice of using surrogates to execute projects in their host communities, is totally unacceptable by the group.
Some of their demands are; “The Company should withdraw the RFQ, SEPLAT current mode of payment which they said wasgrossly inappropriate. Grass cutting be made a separate contracts because of the hazards associated with it.
“Contract staffs from host communities be converted to SEPLAT direct employees, SEPLAT to pay N10m annually as Derivation” and other issues raised by the following chairmen from the host and impacted communities.
Some of the other chairmen who signed the communiqué included: Mr. Bright Agbroko, Irhodo -Jesse community; Mr Sunday Mietehe, Ogirisen- Elume, Alex Egbaran , Jakpa- Mereje; C.O Akporoka Rtd, Mosogar.
Others were: Ushawumi James, Ituru-Elume; Kojo Esobiebi, Irama; Emmanuel Matemi, Mereje, Emmanuel Enughure, Igbeku community, Mr. Napoleon Idabor, Boboroku-Jesse; Osifo Samson, Edeje-Jesse; Godwin Okpetanure, Ejekimoni; Miemie Ufuoma Edwin, Ughoton, Tobore Ajisha, Ugbokodo, Chief Hon. Godwin Okpako, Amukpe; Davidson Ameye, Ugborhen, Ovuakporaye Ogaga, Okunigho, Imoyi Brien, Otefe, Onojighofe Johnbull, Okuogbaye, Mr. Omabene Retainer, Okuno and Mr. Deniran Godday from Ugbukurusu community, among others.
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