The Ogun State Chairman of the Affiliation of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Pastor Jolaoluwa Emmanuel, has lamented the staggering quantity of N650m bridging price owed by the state authorities to the waste managers.
Emmanuel revealed that the state authorities's refusal to clear this big debt, regardless of a number of enchantment letters, has not solely hampered their effectivity but in addition thrown greater than 100 operators and tons of of staff out of jobs.
He defined that whereas the state authorities owes the waste managers 18 months bridging price for the final waste administration totaling over N450 million, the highways managers who he stated are accountable for managing public waste dumped on the highways within the state, a are 4 months delayed. runs which quantities to greater than N200m.
The AWMN chairman additionally lamented the situation of landfills throughout the state, saying a lot of them are in poor situation, making it troublesome to achieve them with their rubbish assortment autos and must be repaired on precedence earlier than the wet season begins.
Jolaoluwa made this identified on Wednesday throughout a press convention on the affiliation's secretariat in Adigbe, Abeokuta.
He stated: “Whereas we wish to respect Governor Dapo Abiodun for doing a lot to take Ogun State from one of many dirtiest to the cleanest since he got here to energy in Might 2019, we might additionally prefer to say that as a lot as we have now additionally performed an essential function in reaching this milestone, nonetheless, we’re rising annoyed with the arrears of 18 months of bridge cost of over N450 million that authorities owes us.
“The bridging cost is a consequence of the truth that not many individuals pay for the disposal of their waste, some see it as pure authorities duty or a part of the dividends of democracy. That’s the reason the federal government is making this bridge cost to compensate for this shortfall
“This backlog dates again to September 2022 and each time we wrote to the federal government it was promise after promise that was by no means stored. We was once greater than 200 operators, however now we’re lower than 100 as a result of many may not address the hardship.
He added that many waste managers are at the moment sick, whereas some are struggling to repay their banks as a result of sure services they’ve collected to enhance their efficiency.
“Those that additionally assist deal with the general public waste on our highways will probably be owed for 4 months straight, amounting to over N200 million. We don't discover it straightforward in any respect as a result of the price of operations has turn into astronomically excessive. A liter of diesel now prices N1,500, what do we are saying about the price of spare elements and tires?
“Our effectivity is being examined, we have now tried to be affected person to this point, however we could also be compelled into chapter 11 if we would not have capital to work with. The landfills throughout the state are additionally not in good situation. The federal government ought to please assist restore these dumps earlier than the rains are available full drive.
“We’re utilizing this medium to enchantment to Governor Abiodun to please assist us. The struggling is so nice, however we can’t bear it anymore,” he added.
Talking to our correspondent, Commissioner for Surroundings, Mr Ola Oresanya stated the federal government is conscious of the predicament of waste managers and is already taking steps to make sure they’re paid inside days.
Oresanya stated: “We’re conscious of the ache of waste collectors, which might be attributed to the astronomical enhance in gasoline costs and the excessive value of spare elements for autos.
“All this resulted in excessive working prices, and we prevented transferring the burden to the general public by growing waste assortment charges.
“The federal government is conscious of those challenges and we’re working severely to handle this difficulty. I'm certain PSP operators will quickly have causes to smile. It’s a reflection of the prevailing socio-economic panorama, which I imagine will yield a optimistic dividend with the federal government's varied intervention methods.
He appealed to them to stay calm and stand agency as key companions within the state's public hygiene programmes.
