The Senate Committee on Works has pledged to fully back the actions taken by the Works Ministry to hold contractors accountable for delay in project delivery.
Spokesperson to the Minister of Works, Barr. Uchenna Orji disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
He stated that Senator, Barinada Mpigi commended the bold steps of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, in tackling the challenges that inhibit road infrastructure development in Nigeria.
In the meeting which had in attendance, the members of the Committee, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, with his management team and concerned contractors including, CCECC, RCC, SAMATECH, GITTO and SETRACO, the Senate Committee Chairman stated that the Senate was prepared to fully back actions that hold contractors accountable.
He maintained that Nigerians deserved nothing short of the best in our road infrastructure deliverables and urged stakeholders to uphold their responsibilities in this regard.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Works for the technical innovations they have brought to the construction industry and warned that it was no longer business as usual for contractors to collect tax payers’ money and would delay in completing the projects they contracted to do or do a substandard job.
He said, “In addition to his technical innovations, Senator Umahi has demonstrated remarkable decisiveness in identifying and addressing non-performing contracts. His actions in revoking underperforming agreements and ensuring that public funds are redirected to more capable contractors reflect a deep commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
“This agenda prioritizes infrastructure as the backbone of economic revitalization, and we, in the Senate, will support every step taken to ensure its success.” He decried the hardship contractors’ behaviour has caused road users. “This deplorable condition has resulted in devastating consequences. Precious lives have been lost, not just on the highway but also among those forced to seek alternative routes through treacherous river crossings.
He warned that the era of such behaviours of contractors had gone. “Contractors, including RCC, have received substantial funds, including the N15 billion that was injected into this project, yet delivery remains elusive. The other stretch of the East-West Road has contractors like RCC, Setraco, and Gitto who have been paid billions, yet the pace of work is far from acceptable.
Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works thanked the Senate leadership, Senate Committee on Works and indeed the 10th NASS for placing a watch on the contractors to ensure value for money, speedy and quality delivery of all the road projects of this administration.
He commended the President of Nigeria very highly for giving priority attention to the completion of the inherited ongoing projects and for the vision that informed the initiative to construct the four Legacy projects cutting across the 6 Geo-Political Zones.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Works has given Julius Berger Plc ultimatum to appear before it on 6th December 2024. In a motion moved and adopted during the investigative hearing, the Senate resolved that it would have no option than to issue a warrant of arrest on Julius Berger Plc should it fail to appear before it as scheduled.
