• L – R, Fin. Sec; Seni Olawoyin, Jolaoluwa Gbenga(3rd, state chairman) & the General Secretary, Ogunsanya Kayode on Wednesday.
By Abayomi Ife, Abeokuta
The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria(AWAMN), Ogun State chapter has warned that its members may not be able to continue rendering their services due to the over N650million debt owed them by the state government.
The Association said that apart from the N650million debt which it lamented had crippled members’ business, the waste dumpsites in parts of the state, it added, were no longer accessible because of their deplorable conditions while the costs of wastes evacuation from homes, streets and highways to the dumpsites have also hit the rooftops.
The body warned that with the imminent return of the rainy season and incapacitated AWAMN, a multi – pronged epidemic looms in the state if wastes were not disposed off safely or as quickly as they were generated by residents and commercial places.
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital in company of members, the state chairman of AWAMN, Com. Jolaoluwa Gbenga, urged Governor Dapo Abiodun – led state government to offset the debt which he said, puts over 1000 direct and indirect jobs on the line should they close shops due to lack of funds to continue operations.
Also speaking, the Financial Secretary, Seni Olawoyin, said members were being owed 18 months debt in arrears to the tune of N650million, saying over 100 of their members have stopped operations and unable to pay bank loans used to acquire equipment such as converters because of the indebtedness to them
In the same vein, the General Secretary, Ogunsanya Kayode, recalled that the AWAMN had written many letters separately to the state Ministry of Environment, Ogun State House of Assembly and Governor Dapo Abiodun about their plights, lamenting that all they had ever got were unfulfilled promises.
But reacting to the development, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya said government is aware of the predicament of the waste managers and is already taking steps to ensure that they are paid in a matter of days.
Oresanya said, “we are aware of the pains of waste collectors, which can be attributed to the astronomical increase in fuel prices and the high cost of vehicle spare parts.
“All these resulted in the high operation cost, and we have been avoiding the burden transfer to the public through the increase in waste collection charges.
“The government is aware of these challenges, and we are working to address the matter. I am sure the PSP operators will have reasons to smile very soon. It’s a reflection of the prevailing social-economic landscape, which I believe will yield a positive dividend with the various intervention strategies by the government.
“I appeal to them to remain calm and be steadfast as a major partner in public hygiene programme of the State”.
