Govt Contracts Not for Political Settlement, Indigenous Contractors Warned

Dissatisfied with the work of some local contractors, Akwa Ibom State government has threatened to blacklist any indigenous road construction firm that failed to meet contract specifications.

The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, gave the warning while inspecting some road projects ahead of their inauguration by the state Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel on Tuesday next week.

He stressed that the involvement of local contractors in the execution of government projects in the state should not be taken for granted or as political settlement

The commissioner particularly fumed at the slow pace of work in projects being handled by one of the indigenous contractors in Cornelia Connelly College (CCC), Afaha Oku, Uyo.

He told the contractor that if they fail to meet the deadline for the completion of the projects, his firm would be dropped.

 The commissioner noted that the projects were among others scheduled for commissioning by the State Governor as part of activities to mark his first year in office.

“I may wish to remove the projects from the list of commissioning as I said publicly I am not willing to commission any project that is not properly completed.

“I am not willing to play any ball with anybody no matter how close. The indigenous contract is not living up to expectation and should be condemned.

“I think he has to sit up before continuing to work with us. When things are good you see it and like. What I don’t like is that last minute rush to meet up expectation of commissioning purposes”, he said

By Okon Bassey in Uyo/Thisday

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