The Delta State Government has terminated several contracts awarded by the previous administration over slow progress and failure by contractors to deliver the projects at the pace expected by the government.
Among the projects affected are the Okerenkoko Township Road, the construction of Adjei Street and School Road with interlocking stones at a new layout in Warri South Local Government Area, and the permanent office complex for the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC.
The decision was among the outcomes of the State Executive Council, SEC, meeting, where the government approved the repudiation of a number of projects following recommendations by the State Tenders Board.
Commissioner for Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, flanked by the Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Sir Festus Ahon, during a post-Exco briefing, said the affected projects were terminated because their execution had fallen below expectations.
He stressed that the government could no longer allow public funds to remain tied up in projects that were not progressing satisfactorily.
Aniagwu explained that the termination was necessary to create room for fresh procurement processes and enable the government to engage contractors with the capacity to complete the projects within reasonable timelines.
Meanwhile, the state government has approved massive rehabilitation and reconstruction work in primary and secondary schools across the state, with the projects expected to commence in the coming weeks.
Aniagwu said the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Education had been directed to immediately assess schools across the state’s 25 local government areas and identify those requiring rehabilitation or complete reconstruction.
He said the intervention was aimed at providing pupils, students and teachers with safer and more conducive environments for teaching and learning.
“The governor has directed that the two ministries should immediately come up with the scope of these different schools that need to be rehabilitated or reconstructed so that government can immediately proceed to put them in order,” Aniagwu said.
He added that the council also moved to boost workers’ welfare with the approval of the construction of 12 additional duplexes for Permanent Secretaries.
According to him, the administration recently inaugurated new residential quarters for Permanent Secretaries and provided them with official vehicles.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state government was working on a proposal, to be backed by legislation, for the payment of a 13th-month salary to civil servants as a reward for workers’ dedication and contribution to the development of the state.
The council also approved additional residential quarters for members of the Delta State House of Assembly following the increase in the number of constituencies from 29 to 38.
Aniagwu said the governor had directed the Ministry of Housing to commence the process of providing accommodation for the incoming legislators ahead of their assumption of office.
He also announced approval for the construction of 92 residential quarters for medical personnel at the Osubi Specialist Hospital, adding that the accommodation comprises 24 units for resident doctors and 68 units for house officers.
Execution below expectations: Oborevwori terminates three contracts