Yahaya Bello, the Kogi State Governor-Elect has warned the Idris Wada’s administration against crippling the state by awarding frivolous contracts which may plunge the state into financial hardship.
In a statement by his media office, Bello cautioned Wada against awarding of contracts without following due process all in an attempt to frustrate the incoming government.
Bello said, “Our attention has been drawn to some hasty contracts about to be awarded by the government through the State Universal Education Board, SUBEB. In as much as we are aware that the government still have up till January 27, 2016 to act on behalf and in trust for the Kogi people, restraints are required to ensure the state is not plunged into further debts.
“Information at our disposal shows that despite the failure of government to judiciously account for the 1.7 billion naira, of which the state paid 872 million naira as counterpart fund with the Universal Basic Education providing the balance of 872 million naira balance intervention fund.
“We are also aware that the 872 million naira counterpart fund paid by government was a facility from Zenith Bank which government will have to service.
“Having frittered away the funds with many contractors defaulting on the contractual agreements, we expect the government to tighten the noose on the contractors and ensure the people of the state get value for money.
“To compound the situation, government had secured another 2.1 billion naira from Zenith Bank in order to access another 2.1 billion naira. With the 4.2 billion naira already in the kitty, government has now gone on a spending spree, awarding frivolous contracts to company that had not even completed their registration processes at the Corporate Affairs Commission.
“We are concerned that despite owing contractors over a billion naira on previous SUBEB projects, the government has completely ignored the necessity to settle its previous debts before awarding others.
The Governor-Elect added, “Also, we have found it difficult to helm up the fact that contractors were owed for jobs which funds had been collected by the government.
“Our concern is hinged on the fact that, with the level of indebtedness in Kogi State, it will be unfair to further cripple the state by plunging us into further debts when our civil servants are being owed several monthly salaries. We urge the government to halt further action on the new contracts to ensure accountability.”
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