‘Contractor didn’t disappear with Bayelsa SIP money’

The office of the Bayelsa State Cash Transfer Unit of Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme has denied reports that a contractor absconded with the money meant for disbursement to households in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Zamfara states.

According to a statement, yesterday, by the head of the unit, Mrs. Tonbara Kenigbolo, the office said it was ready to give money to the shortlisted households in three local government areas in the state.

She said each household in 96 communities in Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, and Nembe councils was expected to get N50, 000.

Kenigbolo described the reports that the contractor Mr. Henry, owner of Data Mining Firm, in charge of the disbursement disappeared with money as “misleading and an attempt to create unnecessary tension”.

According to her, the body only said during a town hall meeting organised by BANGOF in partnership with Africa Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) for beneficiaries of the scheme in Yenagoa that Data Mining failed to deliver on its mandate due to setback in logistics.

She said as part of an effort to address the delay in payment, the office petitioned the national headquarters of the SIP, leading to the termination of the contract of the company and the engagement of a new firm, Softcom.

Kenigbolo said the new contractor had received funds would commence payment soon.