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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved payment of outstanding certificates to road contractors, with Minister of Works David Umahi assuring prompt processing in coordination with relevant agencies.
Addressing road contractors in Abuja, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said that the President directed them to liaise with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) so that they would be paid as soon as possible.
The minister promised to ensure that outstanding capital funds are paid once certificates are approved by the President.
“And of course, we have to execute the tripartite agreement to get you paid. It’s very important.”
According to the minister, the President has approved certificates and has equally directed liaison with FIRS for payment.
“He has directed them to liaise with FIRS and get you paid. So that process is on and we are going to get your funds.
“And of course, we have to execute the tripartite agreement to get you paid. It’s very important.”
On NNPC projects, Umahi noted that the President has directed that they continue, even though they were inherited by his administration.
“Some of you are involved in NNPC projects. As a matter of course, I’m in your team.
“The President has directed that all the inherited NNPC projects must continue. But NNPC is not going to pay you again. They will no longer be the one paying you.
“The Minister of Works will be the one paying you. Is that correct? Are we together? So, I need to make myself very clear so that contractors who are going to continue to ask questions are going to be able to answer them so that we all leave this place with some rights.
“The projects are going to be scoped in sections. If you have 150 kilometres of road, we can’t engage you to be doing 150 kilometres of road. We want what you can finish in nine months,” he stated.
In his remarks, Minister of State for Works Goronyo Bello noted that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) would key into the design of concrete technology.
“Now, FERMA also has to get into the concrete innovative technology. When I was not using asphalt to maintain my roads, I would come on the cross and then I would use concrete.
“So, I think that FERMA can start also with the experience of concrete. Now, what FERMA must have to take in is to put asphalt on top of asphalt.
“For you to use asphalt, if the other roads have permission, then you have to mill out the first layer here and then you are buying that and you can put your asphalt. That’s the only way it can last.
“And I want to also report in all our construction, when we have the road that has failed we must have to dig. If it has failed beyond two feet, then we must use logs and shacks and smoothies and bring it to the existing road level and turn it,” Goronyo said.
