By Ngwuoke Ngwuoke

Contractors handling various projects in three Universities in the State have up to Friday this week to submit their work plans or have rhe contracts terminated.

In addition, the contractors are required to erect project signposts in the color and design specified by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, with 3D drawing of the design on the signboard, including the company name handling each project.

These are part of agreements reached at a meeting between the Commissioner for Tertiary Education in the State, Prof Amari Omaka, SAN, and the contractors in Abakaliki.

The contractors are those handling the Senate building, staff quarters, hostels, and faculty buildings.

According to the agreement, defaulting contractors would be penalised, and money will no longer be released to them until they comply.

Addressing the meeting earlier, the Commissioner emphasized that Ebonyi State has been blessed with good Governors, who have made the state proud at different times, emphasizing that Gov Nwifuru is leveraging on the achievements of his predecessors to surpass their records as he is touching every aspect of the people’s lives.

“However, the governor is not happy with the sluggish manner in which contracts are executed, and that is why all government functionaries have been deployed to the field to monitor the numerous projects of FON including the commissioners and special assistants to the Governor to enable us to deliver the dividend of democracy to our people which they deserve.

“Thus, there is no going back on the projects that are to be delivered within one year. These include the Senate building, staff quarters, hostels, the resettlement estate, and the faculty buildings.

“The government has sunk so much public funds into these projects to ensure that it happens, so contractors will be held accountable for any failure in the projects.”

Omaka SAN that what Ebonyians want to see are the results of what Governor Nwifuru promised them, “they don’t want to hear that he has so many ongoing projects, and all of you (the contractors) have to make all those things to become visible.

“By July, we expect that the staff quarters should be ready for commissioning, same with the Senate building. The rest of the contractors handling projects have their dates on the executed contract agreements.

“The resettlement buildings must be commissioned during the second anniversary of His Excellency, and all the required finishing touches should be done immediately,” he said.

In her remarks’ the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Elder. Matilda Njoku, reminded the contractors that they are working for the public good.

“I urge you to build like Nehemiah, who built the beautiful walls of Jerusalem, and it became a memorial that promoted him to leadership in Jerusalem.”

The SSA to the Governor on ICT Engr Moses Okite Nwangbo in his remark commended the contractors handling the hostels but expressed disappointment on the failure handling the staff quarters at ICT University in attending the meeting despite his physical reminders to them.

Some of the contractors who spoke, included Chief Victor Chukwu, Chief Livinus Ilang and Rt Hon Lazarus Ogbee who commended the Commissioner for his regular presence at the sites and thorough supervision and requested their colleagues to show commitment to the job.

After mentioning some of their challenges, they, however, assured the Commissioner that they would deliver their jobs as stipulated in the contract agreements.

In a vote of thanks, Chief Ogbee appreciated the commissioner and his team for the wonderful work they have been doing to make sure the Governor’s agenda is achieved.

He suggested that meetings of this nature should be held from time to time for the commissioner to know what each contractor is facing. He further said that the meeting should be held in segments so that the contractors would be more open to air their peculiar challenges.

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