A contractor who executed a N23.6 million project for the Federal Capital Territory ministry under the Millennium Development Goals programme has sent a SOS message to President Goodluck Jonathan, calling on the President to intercede on her behalf.
The contractor, Alhaja Rakiatu Folashade, is calling for the President’s intervention as the Federal Capital Territory ministry has refused to pay her the N10 million balance of 4 years after the contract was awarded and 15 months after its completion.
Sadly, Folashade said she had contracted an ailment over the same time period, a fibroid which required N300,000 to treat but the funds were not there as she had spent a lot of time and money following up on the funds stuck in the FCT ministry.
She narrated her ordeal, “Sometime in 2012, I came out from the bathroom and slumped and was taken to the hospital.
“I was asked to do a scan and was diagnosed as having a full blown fibroid. I was told I would need N300, 000 for an operation, but I have not been able to raise the money.
“I went to Abuja because I did a project for FCTA and they owe me N10m.
“I executed and handed over the project in September 21, 2012. My file was approved for payment by the Minister of the FCT, Bala Mohammed. They sent the file to the Director of Treasury and then to Deputy Director of Treasury, and from there to Department of Finance.
“When it got to Finance, they said they were short of funds. They returned my file to MDG in Apo.
“Since then, nothing has been heard about my file. Whenever I call them, they say they have no money. I am dying because of N300, 000, whereas I have N10m with the FCTA.”
She showed the approval for the disbursement of the funds was issued by FCT Minister Bala Mohammed in 2012. However treasury officials said they were unable to pay her due to unavailability of funds.
Speaking further on her ordeal, Alhaja said,“I have been living from hands to mouth. My son, who attends a private university, has been at home for the past two years. He and his sister have no father again. I am begging the president of this country, President Goodluck Jonathan, to help me talk to them. I am not begging for money, this is my money that I worked for. If somebody had told me few years ago that I would be looking for N300, 000, I would have told the person to go and sit down,” she added.
Her daughter, who was with her when our correspondent visited, appealed to the authorities to see to her mother’s case, saying, “We lost our father last year. We cannot afford to lose her too.”