Another bubble concerning the ill manner contracts for projects are awarded in Imo State is about the burst, as controversy greets renovation of Imo State House of Assembly Complex, New Owerri.
It would be recalled that the deteriorated state of the gigantic complex of the state legislature, especially the leaking roof warranted the award of contract for the renovation of the building by the present administration said to be costing the state government N150m.
The preliminary works done by the contracting firm (names withheld) not only exposed staff to danger and construction hazards, several Honourables members and staff of the Assembly had their office equipment and valuable items destroyed by the rainfall havoc that ravaged the offices through the open roof.
In the process, staff and members were forced to relocate, to nearby Heroes’ Square complex for alterative accommodation as plenary sessions of the House became doubtful due to poor state of the chamber.
Alarmed by undue procedures that heralded the award of contract, and indications that the contractor allegedly lacks the capabilities to handle such rehabilitation, the Speaker of the Assembly, Ben Uwajumogu has reportedly ordered them to stop work and pack out of the complex.
Uwajumogu who stormed Assembly on his return from a trip abroad expressed serious misgivings over the conduct of the contractor and operational standards in the execution of the de-roofing exercise.
Based on the poor job done so far and noticeable deficiencies that characterized the contract, Uwajumogu has washed hands off the renovation contract stating that he was not part of the selection of the contractor and award of the contract.
The Speaker who drove into the complex last Friday to express anger and disgust later poured venoms on the site/project manager. The Speaker queried why a rope instead of crane was used to lift and crossover iron roof frames that are more than 25 metres adding that innocent people would have been killed as a result poor execution of the job.
Said he; “what if the collapsed portal frames had killed innocent lives or smashed vehicles? Where is the contractor? Where he wants members to meet for plenary? It was these questions that warranted Uwajumogu to issue orders to the contractor to ensure the collapsed iron roof hoisted without crane be removed under 24 hours, alleging that the contractor could be incompetent and attempting to maximize profit at the detriment of public safety.
“I have never met the contractor before and cannot ascertain his competence. I am not also prior to the contract sum”, Uwajumogu added.
