Communities in the Okitipupa and Odigbo Local Council Areas of Ondo State have decried the alleged failure of a firm operating in the axis to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and local content obligations and have appealed to the state government to intervene.
The communities, known as the G-8 Communities Development Union, which described the situation as unacceptable, called for the implementation of outstanding CSR to the communities.
The affected communities include Korede, Adewinle, Ago Oyinbo, Ago Alafia, Oloruntedo, Ayetoro, Mobolorunduro Mile 49, and Kajola.
While protesting against the development on Wednesday, residents of the communities, who were armed with placards of various inscriptions, alleged that the firm employed external labour and imposed an external community liaison officer, as well as failed to commit one per cent of its budget to CSR programmes.
Some of the placard inscriptions read:
“Stop treating us like a slave” and “Give us our CSR project,” among others.
According to a community leader, Kehinde Oloruntobi, who expressed frustration over the forestry firm, the disregard for the company’s obligations despite previous complaints and appeals is worrisome.
Oloruntobi disclosed that a Concession Agreement on Sustainable Forestry Management Exploitation of the Ondo State Afforestation Project had been executed on August 17, 2021, between the Ondo State Government and the firm, outlining specific CSR obligations.
He said, “These include committing 1% of the annual budget to CSR activities, employing local persons, promoting education and sanitation, training employees, and adhering to sustainability standards.
“Despite these binding provisions, the firm has allegedly wilfully refused to honour its CSR obligations. The company has employed external labour, imposed an external community liaison officer, failed to commit 1% of its budget to CSR programmes, and neglected its duty to promote education, sanitation, and skill training.”
A youth leader, Sunday Aro, stated that the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa should urgently intervene in the matter with immediate alacrity.
“We are using this medium to compel the immediate implementation of all outstanding CSR and local content obligations, establish a tripartite monitoring committee to ensure strict compliance, invoke necessary sanctions, including suspension or revocation of concession rights, if it fails or refuses to comply,” Aro stated.
The union, however, sought government intervention to address the alleged breaches and ensure that the company complies with its CSR and local content obligations.
“We are seeking Ondo State Government intervention as a contracting party to the Agreement to take decisive action in defence of justice, fairness, and the well-being of G-8 community people.”
Photo: The residents protesting on Wednesday
