By peter uzoma
Contractors handling projects in Imo State have raised alarm over a new method allegedly introduced by the state government to convert awarded contracts for personal execution through direct labour means.
Trumpeta learnt that at the beginning of the Okorocha administration, contracts for several projects especially for roads were awarded to different outfits. However, instead of funding the projects to enable the contractors finish the job in a recorded time and in perfect state, some of the aggrieved contractors who spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity to avoid victimization, accused state government officials of deploying certain tactics to take over the road projects.
Apart from under-funding to starve the contractors, those handling the projects received several forms of threats making them to keep away. Instead of revisiting contractual agreements, government forcibly took over the contracts under the guise of direct labour without the involvement of ministry of work staffers or any government agency worker.
Trumpeta was informed that most government officials including few honourable members have become overnight road contractors with ownership of asphalt plants and heavy duty equipment.
One of the contractors who was almost in tears while narrating his experience to Trumpeta said “why has nobody bothered to ask why the governor cancelled all contracts in Imo State and using direct labor to execute them. I have my contract papers; he doesn’t want to pay contractors, that’s why he choses to do that. They have asphalt company and that’s why the treacherously revoked the contract even when government is owing the contractors.
“A road project will be handed to a contractor. After you complete all earth works and compacting, agents of government will come and lay asphalt on it to collect the bigger share of any project project. Where has it happened before? he querried.
