Contractors tell Umahi, project review or re-award causes delay and non-payment
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Works Minister Dave Umahi has been cautioned by contractors not to review existing projects in order to re-award them to new contractors.
They described the purported move as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the Renewed Hope Agenda of the new administration and stall the progress of work through non-payment.
According to them, the ministry has concluded plans to tamper with contracts already awarded by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) under the guise of review.
Vitalis Chikwendu, who spoke on behalf of his fellow contractors, accused Umahi of causing work delay by taking too much time to settle down and treat files, as well as sidelining civil servants who have institutional knocking.
“We are ready for him as he has no power to tamper with contracts duly approved by FEC,” he said.
“The Directors and other senior staff in the ministry are disenchanted because he is running the ministry like his personal business and has bragged that he would review even contracts awarded by the Federal Executive Council.”
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Umahi not getting briefings
The contractors said Umahi fails to get briefings from Directors and other senior staff to enable him know the state of projects being handled or supervised by the ministry before determining the next line of action – and instead goes round the states pretending to be working while in fact stalling the progress of work, per Vanguard.
“One key sign that we are dealing with a wrong man for the job is his jumping from one state to another pretending to be inspecting federal roads when in actual fact he has not gotten briefings on the state of even these roads.”
He cautioned against reported plans by Umahi to appoint special assistants for the 36 states, people he can easily control to do his bidding.
“He is trying to frustrate some of us who have done work and have gone far with our projects. If not, why should the Minister refuse to treat files and ensure expeditious release of money so we can continue with the projects?
“We passionately appeal to Mr. President to urgently redeploy the Minister and bring someone who has track records like a [Babatunde] Fashola or [Nyesom] Wike whose records of performances in their states are stellar; because it is clear that Umahi’s desires are at variance with the aspirations of the current administration.”