Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, (holding mic) addressing contractors handling ETF projects in his office.
•Says projects must be ready by March 31.
Ekiti State government has ordered all contractors handling Education Trust Fund (ETF) Projects between 2007 and 2012 to go back to site and ensure the completion of their projects before the end of March this year.
The state Deputy Governor, Dr. Olusola Kolapo gave the order at a meeting with the affected contractors in his office in Ado-Ekiti.
The Deputy Governor said government was worried that contracts that were awarded between 2009 and 2011 and which ought not to have taken more than three months to be completed have dragged into 2015 with the levels of completion quite appalling.
He expressed the government’s displeasure at the apathetic attitude of some of the contractors who failed to complete their various projects several months after collecting 85% or more of their contract sum.
Dr. Olusola warned that contractors who still hold the view that government projects could be handled haphazardly should have a rethink before transacting business with the present administration because the Fayose-led administration will not tolerate such.
He also explained to the contractors that the government was not going to entertain any request for contract variation from anyone of them because the projects ought to have been completed long before now.
The Deputy Governor, who told contractors who have collected 85% and above of the contract sum not expect any payment from the government until they complete their projects, directed others to complete their projects up to the percentage of the contract sum they have collected.
He assured them that their money were ready and would be paid immediately they satisfy the government’s requirements.
Some of the contractor in their response complained that the modality of payment by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology who are in charge of the ETF projects was very poor and appealed to government and improve on this.
They however promised to comply with the government directive to return to site and work assiduously to meet the deadline.
Earlier, the State Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka who was also at the meeting explained that the forum was not to witch-hunt anybody or contractor, but was called to provide a platform for the committee set up by the government to rub minds with the concerned contractors to chart a way forward for the completion of projects which were long overdue and for transparency and accountability which Fayose administration stands for.
Ekiti State Government Press Release
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate