Gov Akala, come to our rescue
We wish to solicit for the assistance of the executive governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, in retrieving our money from the Citiserve Company while we return their orange boxes to them.
Our expectations were high when we were informed about the programme, which was carried out through the Ministry of Establishment, Training and Poverty Alleviation. The programme, which required a payment of N25,000 for supply of recharge card printing machines, as we were made to believe, would alleviate our sufferings and most of us had to go round to borrow money for that purpose.
Unfortunately however, we have been disappointed due to unfolding events:
The machine (orange box) was highly overpriced, as people bought the same for N15,000, even with instalmental payment elsewhere. The machines were provided at the rate of N26,000 each, with the impression of a N26,000 subsidy !
We were supplied with N100 recharge cards at a rate of N96.50, while recharge cards distributors in Ibadan are selling same at N95.50, without having to buy any machine or box of whatever colour.
Most of the cards printed could not be sold as they fade off quickly before they are sold.
Even at the exorbitant price, one cannot reload the machines easily when the numbers that came with them are exhausted except at IBTC Chartered Bank at Ogunpa, Ibadan. It is the same procedure for everyone, including those of us at Oyo and Ogbomoso.
At the IBTC Chartered Bank, we were told that the numbers were not available and that the machines might have to be taken to Lagos. This has been the case on several occasions.
Up till now, we have not been able to reload the machines after the first N10,000 worth of recharge cards that came with them were exhausted.
Also, at the rate we were supplied, one must make a sale of over N400,000.00 before one can make a profit of N16,000, which is net invested capital.
The arrangement looks more like a way of extorting money from us and not a poverty alleviation programme and we have lost confidence in the whole arrangement.
It is, therefore, clear that the orange box is of no positive use to our economic plight, but is rather compounding it. The governor should rise to the occasion and bail us out of this exploitation as our last hope, having failed to impress the message on those that supplied the machines. We are appealing passionately to the governor to help retrieve our money so that we can pay our creditors since there is no prospect for us in the arrangement.
We shall be grateful for your quick intervention and pray that God will continue to be with you.
Igbalajobi Abdulmajeed,
Coalition of Orange Box Operators,
P. O. Box 18309, Dugbe,
Ibadan.
|
Use PEF to arm the Police
For sometime now, nothing has been said about the Police Equipment Fund (PEF), put in place
to assist the Nigeria Police.
The initial plan was that, the money realised by the Fund, would be used to buy equipment — sophisticated guns, armoured carriers, bullet proof vests etc. for policemen, but since a scandal broke out with regards to misappropriation of funds, nothing is being said about the Fund.
I believe not all the money in the Fund’s account was stolen, therefore, the remaining money should be made available to police authorities to procure arms for policemen.
The rate at which armed robbers are killing policemen calls for concern and something must be done urgently.
David Gadarwan,
Jos.
|
