- Hon. Dr. Promise Edemiah is the Chief Executive Officer of PAWAFE Integrated Services an indegenous construction company in the Niger Delta region. In this interview with our correspondent, he speaks on the challenges bedevilling the industry as well as the performance of the Vincent Job led administration
MAY WE GET TO MEET YOU SIR?
My name is Hon. Dr. Promise Edemiah. I am the CEO of PAWAFE Integrated Services an indegenous construction company based in the Niger Delta region.
WHAT IS YOUR COMPANY INTO?
We are into building and construction as well as numerous civil engineering jobs. Infact anything that has to do with civil works is what we do including roads and bridges.
RECENTLY THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN AWARDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS WITHIN THE COUNCIL TO YOUR FIRM. HOW ARE THEY SURE YOU WILL DELIVER?
If they were not sure they wouldn’t have chosen me as a contractor for the council. This is very true especially if we consider that we have a Chairman who is itching to perform and entrench his name in the sands of times. It. Will be recalled that when Hon. Job was sworn in, he appointed me as the council contractor and since then I have been delivering to specifications even when I am yet to be mobilised to site. I do my job and after carrying out my job I get paid for job delivery. This is why you see that the people and the council is more relaxed doing business with me. While other contractors in the industry will be waiting for mobilisation we are delivering our jobs. We are not after the money like most contractors and that is why the people are happy with what we are doing as indegenous contractors. If you talk about service delivery, I will beat my chest to say that we are the number one indegenous contractors in the LGA today.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE ABILITY OF INDEGENOUS CONTRACTORS TO DELIVER AND HELP ACHIEVE GOOD GOVERNANCE?
Just like I said, 90% of our indegenous contractors are not interested in getting the job done and that is a major problem we are getting in terms of patronage. They are just interested in what they will get. They just want to collect the money and after which they will hide their faces in shame. This attitude is not good for the industry. Just as the government has a role to play so also the contractors have a role to play in delivering jobs that can stand the test of time. But unfortunately, we find it difficult today because we have a set of indegenous contractors who believe they must be mobilised to site. This attitude may be due to their perception that they may not get paid after they might have delivered on their jobs. You know the situation of the country. They feel anything can happen but you know this mindset is not good if we truly want to help the government achieve it’s electoral promises.
WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE HON. VINCENT JOB LED ADMINISTRATION IN THE LGA?
Since being sworn in as Chairman of the LGA last year June, I will rate him as the best LGA Chairman in terms of job delivery. Within the first six months of his swearing in, he turned everywhere to a construction site carrying out various people oriented projects that is impacting on the people. If you go round the LGA you will see projects being undertaking by the Chairman. The Okwizi Police station, Ndoni motor park as well as the Omoku market which is almost 97% completed. In terms of service delivery, he stands tall and is setting a pace for others to follow.
FINALLY SIR, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO INDEGENOUS CONTRACTORS IN THE NIGER DELTA BECAUSE THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION.
My advise is that they must understand that there is no easy way to success. There must be success with labour. Another is doubt. You don’t put doubt in your mind while dealing with government or anybody. They should do their part and let it be that it is the government that is owing. Unfortunately, most of them are not willing to venture. Our indegenous contractors should learn to take a bold step and also have a positive mindset.
