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The Managing Director of SOA Alkawari Nigeria Limited, Mr. Segun Samuel, has urged the Zamfara state government to order the Ministry of Finance for the immediate release of rice subsidy payment, which according to the company is long overdue.
Mr. Samuel in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday also called on the Zamfara state Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle to also compel the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development to pay for the contract executed for the Zamfara State Government’s Civil Servants Welfare Scheme.
According to the statement, the contract was awarded by the Directorate of Labour Matters and Irrevocable Payment Guarantees by the State’s Head of Civil Service under the approval of the Governor.
While pleading with the Zamfara state government, the Managing Director however, explained that, having exhausted all usual channels without getting a positive result, hereby publicly demanded the quick intervention of the state government for the payment.
The statement reads, “the payment terms of the reference contract provides that Zamfara State Government will pay N5,000 per bag on behalf of all benefitting Civil Servants while the beneficiaries will pay N14,000 per bag via salary deduction.
“Trusting on the integrity of your Government, Sir, we had taken a 120 days’ loan from Capitalfield Financial Management Limited to enable us to execute the said rice supply. Furthermore, we decided to support your new administration in executing this Staff Welfare Scheme, while risking our own lives by defying the then raging Covid 19 and the rampancy of banditry in and around Zamfara State.
“Sir, it is almost 3 years now after the completion of the said supply during which time we have waited painfully, lobbied extensively and pushed extra hard for the payment of the promised subsidy without getting our payment.
“Note, Sir, that the refusal of Zamfara State Government to pay per the term of the said contract has totally crashed the business of our small company while our loan balance with the lenders has grown more than 3 times the amount of the original loan we actually took as a result of the accumulated monthly interest and daily default penalty.
“Sadly, our lenders are now in the process of foreclosure on the collateral pledged for the loan while our company promoters currently live under untold pressure and debilitating stress.
“We therefore appeal to your Excellency to order both the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government and Community Development to immediately release these overdue subsidy payments as we hope your kind action will help in avoiding unnecessary litigation over this unfortunate delay cum refusal to fulfill your Government’s contractual,” the statement reads.