The Federal Ministry of Works Directors have risen from in-house budget defence with the Minister, Engr. David Umahi in preparation for budget defence with Joint Committees of National Assembly which is slated for 11th December 2023.
According to the statement released by his Chief Press Secretary on Sunday, stated that Umahi thanked the Acting Permanent Secretary and all the Heads of Departments who handled the Ministry’s budget for their commitment to the appraisal of the 2023 budget and the preparation of the 2024 budget proposal.
The Mininster noted that the road sector needed a different kind of attention beyond the 2024 budget envelope received by the Ministry. “For a developing nation like Nigeria, road sector development is a catalyst for economic development.
“The road sector has the potential to improve the security sector, agricultural sector, trade and investment, health, education ,and, in fact, every aspect of the development of every nation.
He also thanked very highly the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the attention given to the Ministry and his approval of concrete pavement in most of the 2024 projects.
Umahi stated that the Ministry is committed to the development of road infrastructure in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President while noted the huge debts arising from unpaid certificates inherited from the past administration, which runs up to N1.5 trillion up till date and the expected contract reviews arising from inflation.
The Minister said these two factors are recognized in the Ministry as issues that must be confronted in order to move forward which prompted the set up six committees of one committee per geopolitical zone to review all debts of unpaid certified certificates generated before May 29th, 2023, and from May 29th 2023 to date.
Adding that the committees will also review the approved and unapproved variation of prices and all augmentations that were approved or are yet to be approved and make recommendations to the Ministry’s management.
“The Ministry has exposed these debts and all reviews in the Ministry to Mr. President’s economic team and also to the Federal Executive Committee on road sector funding.
“It is believed that the internal works through these constituted committees will help them to use external Consultants to reverify the works so that concrete decisions will be made to move the Ministry forward.
“Contractors who are being owed are requested to approach these committees with all documents to back up their claims from Tuesday 12th 2023 to Friday, 22nd of December 2023 from 9 am to 7 pm at the Minister’s Conference Room, 1st floor of the Ministry of Works, Headquarters, Mabushi Abuja”, he said.
The Minister again thanked Mr. President very highly as well as National Assembly and pledged his commitment in using judiciously whatever fund allocated to the Ministry and such funds must impact on the road infrastructure improvement.
While the entire Directors of the Ministry pledged for a renewed vigor in supervision of the projects, and the results are already evident.
