The Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi has stated that President Bola Tinubu has not abandoned works on inherited projects from former President Muhammadu Buhair’s administration.
Umahi made the declaration after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting yesterday in Abuja.
The Minister who held a meeting with contractors in Abuja after the meeting stated that President Tinubu has not abandoned work on inherited projects.
He stated that contrary to media reports making rounds, President Tinubu has directed that inherited projects be reviewed in line with the current realities in the country. Hence, the ministry would review the projects and present to the FEC for approval.
Umahi pointed that some of the inherited projects were awarded 18, 10 or five years ago when the Dollar was about N185.
He, however, said the subject matter at FEC was not about the unit cost because the Federal Government was satisfied with the unit cost offered to contractors.
He said, “They were also satisfied with the need to review the projects. Some of these projects were awarded 18 years ago, some 10 years ago, five years ago. And so, all these projects were in deficit. There is absolute justification to review these projects where there is budgetary provision and that is the concern of FEC.”
“Neither the President nor FEC directed that inherited projects should be stepped down. Rather, it was Mr. President, out of his magnanimity and being exceptional, who directed that all inherited projects should be made alive through appropriation. Promising that he was going to be looking for ways to fund the projects. Even out of the budgetary provisions through the National Assembly. And that is simply what the ministry of works did. What we are doing now is to review the projects in line with availability of funds. To make a proposal to FEC that in subsequent appropriation money should be made available for such projects. So that they will be completed.
“We are reviewing such projects to go back to FEC in line with their directive. The President has not directed us to step down all inherited projects,” the Minister said.
He, however, warned that contractors delaying jobs and playing with the lives of Nigerians would lose their jobs.
The Minister, also, disclosed that the ministry would start monthly publication of jobs done by the various contractors. He, therefore, charged them all to sit up.
source: Leadership
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