Members of the Indigenous contractors Association in Kogi State have threatened to sue the manager of Zenith Bank.
Members of the Indigenous contractors Association in Kogi State have threatened to sue the manager of Zenith Bank Plc Lokoja branch for refusal to pay for SUBEB contracts they have executed even when the payment schedule had been lodged with the bank.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the Manager of the Bank in Lokoja titled Payment for SUBEB contracts done by indigenous contractors of Kogi State.
The letter which was written by a law firm, Abbas, Abbas & co and addressed to the Manager of the Bank in Lokoja urged the Bank to direct the immediate payment of the indigenous contractors whose payment schedule has been lying idle in their bank for days.
The letter reads, “Take notice that your failure or refusal to comply with the above will leave our client with no choice but to seek legal remedt against the undue advantage your manager at Lokoja Branch is taking over the change of Government in the State.”
According to the letter their members took part in last contract exerciae by the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) ranging from construction, supply and others with strict adherence to due process.
He said they were mobilized after receiving award letters adding that based on prompt delivery principle loans were obtained to execute the contract to finishing lines.
It indicated that final payment schedule were drawn up and sent to the Bank by SUBEB officers after recommendation of the project supervisors.
The letter noted with regret that few contractors accounts were credited while majority are yet to receive alerts.
The letter reaffirmed that the refusal to pay the contractors who had put in their best to complete the objective of their respective contracts with loan facilities that attract interest is the making if the Lokoja branch of the Bank.
Barely one week ago the contractors besieged the Zenith Bank branch in Lokoja over what they termed attempt by the manager to withhold the money said to be about N2billion meant for settling their members who were due for payment.
The money running into some Billions for settling contractors handling various contracts for the Universal Basic Education projects, may have either been diverted or kept in fixed deposit for interests by the Bank manager the protesters alleged.
They insinuated further that the manager was nursing ambition to be appointed as the accountant general of Kogi State by the new Government of Alhaji Yahaya Bello hence he was trying to curry the favour of the Government by withholding their money.
The contractors numbering over one hundred besieged the premises of Zenith bank demanding to see the branch manage Mr Ayeniba Sam whom they alleged was holding their money.
They forced their way to the managers office where they engaged in heated arguments for a long time.
They appealed to the corporate headquarters of Zenith bank Plc to prevail on Lokoja branch of the bank to pay them the contract they executed for State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
