By Douglas Okoro
Abakaliki – The Ebonyi Government says it will not tolerate execution of shoddy projects from contractors handling the Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (EBSUBEB) state intervention projects.
Gov. Dave Umahi gave the warning on Thursday in Abakaliki at the contract bidding ceremony for the UBSUBEB intervention projects.
Umahi represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. John Eke, said the open bidding exercise was to ensure transparency and compliance to due process for credible selection of contractors to handle the projects.
He said that the state government had been prompt and consistent in the payment of counterpart fund.
He said the fund was responsible for the facilitation of the various intervention projects executed in primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
The governor urged `the would-be’ contractors to ensure compliance with the contract specifications and avoid execution of poor quality jobs.
“We will not hesitate to revoke any contract done without recourse to the contract specifications and we will make sure that such contractor is made to face sanction for breach of contract.
“I urge those who are going to come out successful in the bidding process to ensure that they do quality projects and to complete the projects within the specified time frame.
“We are committed to providing adequate school infrastructure that will enhance environment, conducive for proper teaching and learning,’’ Umahi said.
Meanwhile, Eke on his own capacity as the Commissioner for Education commended Umahi for steadfast in his efforts at rebuilding and repositioning of the education sector in the state.
He said the governor repositioned the sector through massive school infrastructure rehabilitation, building of classroom blocks in schools across the state and personnel recruitment.
He said that the government under Umahi has intervened in the provision of reading desks, chalk boards, diaries, school registers and other essential items needed to enhance effective teaching and learning.
“We commend the action governor of our state for his unwavering efforts in restoring lost glory to our public schools through many intervention projects in the sector.
“The transformation witnessed in the state school sector in the areas of infrastructure revolution; recruitment of teaching and non teaching personnel is a fulfillment of his campaign promises to the people.
“The primary and secondary schools in the state have been undergoing massive renovation, rehabilitation, procurement of desks, tables, diaries and other essentials needed to enhance effective teaching and learning since he assumed office in 2015,’’ Eke said.
Earlier, the EBSUBEB Chairman, Chief Hyacinth Ikpo said that selection of successful bidders would follow due process, stressing that there were already laid down criteria for selection of bidders.
He said that only qualified contractors would be chosen for the projects.
“The bidding exercise and selection of successful bidders will be by merit and not by political party affiliation.
“There is no sentiment; those who will qualify must prove that they have the capacity and capability to handle any particular project bidded for.
“We will not tolerate abandonment of projects after collecting mobilisation fee or deviation from the contract specifications, hence we must be thorough in selecting those we are going to engage,’’ Ikpo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that projects expected to be executed under the fourth quarter intervention programme in some selected schools include building of classroom blocks, school perimeter fencing among others. (NAN)