The Management Committee of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 30, which represents the 112 host communities in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, has halted the operations of Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd (HEOSL) following various offenses.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Committee in the person of Harrison Obogor and Ibuje Joseph, the Secretary, after its meeting in Warri.
The statement released called for the withdrawal of license for alleged ‘penchant and recalcitrant attitude’ to all stated obligatory duties in line with the extant General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU).
Contained in the statement is the allegation against the oil mining company for failing to remit to their host communities the 2019 and 2020 GMoU funds despite having a smooth and hassle-free operation in the environment.
The company was also alleged of discontinuing the payment of scholarships of students from the host communities since 2016, and also their refusal to carry out the agreed staff audit of its Edjeba and Lagos offices.
The committee also noted that, ‘Other areas of defaults by the company include non-inclusion of indigenous personnel into management position reflecting seventy/thirty (70/30) as enshrined in the GMOU.’
In addition, it said, ‘Inability of HEOSL to pay vendors despite the hitch-free operation, non-payment of salaries accrued to access control workers spanning into months, making it absolutely impossible for communities to access the deducted five percent investible funds from the GMoU funds as enshrined in the GMoU since the inception of OML 30 till date.’
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In response to all these allegations, Sylvester Okoh, General Manager (Community Relations) of HEOSL, said he was not in any way directed to speak on the development.
He said, ‘I don’t have the authority to speak on this matter.’
Nelson Okoh
Photo Credit: Guardianng