Wike meets Sanitation Service Providers, gets commitment that they will resume work

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (m), Deputy Governor, Rivers State, Dr Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo (L) and Former Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo during the governor's meeting with Sanitation Service Providers on Wednesday in Port Harcourt .

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike in a warm embrace with one of the Sanitation Service Providers, Mr Steve Dappa Addo after the meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday

In a bid to rid Port Harcourt City  of huge refuse dump  sites occasioned by four months  contract  payment arrears owed by the immediate past administration ,  Rivers  State Governor,  Nyesom Ezenwo Wike  has directed  sanitation  service  providers  to commence work  immediately  to clear all dump sites.

The governor  gave the  directive  on Wednesday  at the Government  House,  Port Harcourt  during  a meeting with  Sanitation  Service  Providers.

He assured  the service  providers that since  government  is a continuum, he will  take immediate  steps to start processing  payment  for the service  providers.

Nyesom  Wike  noted that  the negative  environmental  impact  of  the  huge refuse sites necessitated the  need for the interface  to find lasting  solutions  to  the  problem.

He, however,  regretted that  the  service  providers  chose  to  withdraw  their services  few days to his inauguration,  saying  that  such action meant  that there were other reasons  outside outstanding  payment  for their decision.

“I cannot in my clear conscience  allow  you  to  be  owed. I assure  you  that  we  will  start the process for the payment  of  the  funds you are owed. However,  we cannot  pay all at once.

“You were owed for four months  by the previous  administration and you  waited for  the  point  when we were to be inaugurated  to withdraw  your  services. It gives one the feeling  that  the withdrawal  was beyond  the  issue of  payment.  Now that we have  met, get down to work and clean  up  Port Harcourt “, Wike said.

He stated  that  he will  continue  to  monitor  the  streets  of  Port  Harcourt to  ensure  compliance.

Responding,  spokesman  for  the  Service  Providers,  Mr George  Okeya assured  the governor  that they  will get  to work  immediately.