The Commissioner in charge of the Rivers State Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Hon. Okey C. Amadi is now in fresh trouble over an alleged diversion of three (3) months salaries for the newly appointed members of Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee (PPMC). More than thirty (30) members of the committee on Monday stormed our office in a peaceful protest and told our correspondent that since their appointment in June 17, 2014, by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the commissioner failed to inaugurate them.
They spoke through one Comrade Harrison T. Harrison, alleging that their three (3) months stipends were siphoned by the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources.
Comrade Harrison noted with regret that their appointment having being approved by the Governor, the commissioner is bent to frustrate them from working.
The spokesman described the actions of Hon. Amadi as “act of wickedness and also calculated attempt” to rubbish the good works of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
“The governor has a good intention to reduce unemployment in the state, but Hon. Okey C. Amadi is working against that. He is out to frustrate the good plans of Governor Amaechi’s administration,” Comrade Harrison said.
According to Comrade Harrison the actual number of the members of PPMC are one hundred persons, adding that the monthly salary of the chairman of the PPMC is pegged at N200,000, the Vice Chairman and the secretary is fixed at N100,000 while other members will go home with N40,000 each. The PPMC’s spokesperson alleged that the governor has started paying the said amount, but they are yet to receive it, saying that total sum due them in the past three (3) months is amount to N12.8m.
Comrade Harrison asked rheritorically: Now that the Commissioner refuses to inaugurate us three (3) months after our appointment, who are the people performing our duties?
The spokesperson said that due to Hon. Amadi’s non-challant attitude towards the inauguration of the PPMC members, petroleum products are frequently in diversion, petroleum products allocated to Rivers State do not get to their destination, there is hoarding of petroleum products and products are sold with different market prices, thereby exploiting the masses.
They blasted the commissioner for engaging youths from his local government area (Etche) in monitoring the petroleum products.
“Hon. Okey C. Amadi has an ambition to contest for the House of Representatives, because of this he is engaging youths from Etche in the monitoring team, so that they can vote for him when the time comes”, Harrison said.
When Hon. Amadi was contacted through a mobile cell phone, he denied the allegations leveled against him.
He said issuance of appointment letters did not imply commencement of work, saying that the PPMC members are yet to resume duties.
“How can somebody will earn salary without working? It is not possible,” Hon. Amadi said. The Commissioner noted that he has never collected anybody’s salary, alleging that those who were functioned as members of PPMC a year and 6 months ago have been paid.
“Some of them collected N1m, while other received N1.5m. So I don’t have business with people’s money. Those who came to you, protesting are stupid and idiots.
I have a clean record. So whatever they want to say, let them say it,” Hon. Amadi concluded. ###
