Onochie made the appeal when a delegation from the NDDC Contractors’ Association paid her a visit at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
This was contained in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ibitoye.Abosede, and made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Onochie told the contractors that their support and cooperation were needed to resolving the challenges plaguing the interventionist agency.
She, however, expressed regrets that contractors who had completed their jobs were yet to be paid, but affirmed that the commission had set up a committee to streamline the payment of all verifiable outstanding debts.
She stated, “One of the first things we did as a board when we assumed office was to look for means to address the issue of unpaid bills. Please, be patient with us. Give us a little more time to do our house cleaning.”
Onochie assured that they would not be neglected henceforth saying “you are our partners in the development process. As partners in the development of the Niger Delta region, we need your cooperation.”
She commended the persistence of the leadership of the contractors’ association in fighting for their members.
“When I hear about the backlog of debts to contractors, I get disturbed. It is only fair that contractors who have done their jobs get paid for them.
“We have set up a committee to work out modalities for paying the contractors.
“We need the support of all stakeholders to make the NDDC work in the best interest of the people. Our mission is to ensure that the development of the Niger Delta region is sustained,” she added.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman, NDDC Contractors Association, Mr. Joe Adia, stated that members of the group were critical stakeholders in the development of Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
He stated, “We are happy that a new board has taken off. Before now, the contractors were having a rough time. We believe that the coming of the new board will bring changes to the NDDC. We are ready and eager to partner with NDDC.”
Adia urged the NDDC leadership to take the contractors into consideration while seeking for solutions.
He further said the association would do whatever was necessary to assist the commission to ensure that all monies owed NDDC were paid.
