Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde has expressed his disappointment with the contractors’ slow pace of work at the administrative complex of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and Local Government Staff Pension Board.
The governor, who was accompanied by several government officials to the project site on Tuesday, gave the contractor a three-month deadline to complete the project, while approving an additional payment for the project.
The governor who noted that while the work is of good quality, however said it is unacceptable that a project that was supposed to be completed in ten months could not be completed in two years.
According to a statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, Governor Makinde has approved the payment of the additional N150 million asked by the contractor, after he has presented a performance bond.
The governor told reporters at the project location that he has asked the commission to approve funds to expedite the project’s completion, and that the project is projected to be completed in the next three months, according to the contractor’s revised timeliness.
In response to charges that the project has been delayed by rising inflation, Makinde stated that while his administration does not want contractors to conduct business with the state and go bankrupt, the state would not be ripped off.
“I have asked them to release some more money to the contractor and he has given me his commitment that the project will be completed in three months – the hall in one month and the main office in additional two months after that.
“So, by end of September, we should have the Local Government Service Commission workers occupying this place.
“Anything short of this, the contractor will not have any project that has to do with Oyo State while we are still around here.
“Well, I don’t like to threaten people as I believe we have an engagement.
“Of course, there are challenges. The inflationary trend in this country is just unbelievable.
“The price today is different from the price tomorrow. So, it is difficult for contractors to get by.
“This is a serious business and we are ready to listen to them. We don’t want anybody to do business with the Oyo State government and go bankrupt after that.
“We want them to make decent profit and we don’t also want them to rip the state off. Also, whatever we have spent, we want to get value for it and they should understand that”, the governor said.