Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has issued an ultimatum to contractors handling various Federal Roads in Abia State to expedite the process before the 20th of November 2020 or risk take over of the projects by the state government.
Governor Ikpeazu gave the ultimatum, Friday, during an interactive session with Journalists at Government House Umuahia.
The Governor while noting the untold hardship suffered by the people as a result of deplorable Federal roads in the state said, the livelihood of Abia people are threatened as they depend largely on road infrastructure tho boost trade and embark on other commercial activities.
He warned that government will not longer fold it’s arms and watch citizens and other road users suffer as a result of bad road infrastructure which is gradually grinding economic activities.
“If we don’t see them on site by the 20th of this month, this government will be forced to embark on reconstruction of Aba Port Harcourt road Port-Harcourt road Aba, Aba Ikot Ekpene road and Umuahia Ikot Ekpene road.
“We cannot allow our people tho continue to suffer, we cannot continue to allow our people die because the oxygen of trade and commerce is access.
“If we cannot get Akwa-Ibom people to come into Aba or Port-Harcourt people come into Umuahia, then whatever thing we are trying to do will continue to generate economic tension and we don’t want that”, Ikpeazu said.
He directed the Commissioners for Works and his counterpart in the Finance ministry to ensure payment of all contractors handling road projects in the state according to milestones achieved.
According to Governor Ikpeazu, it will not longer be business as usual for contractors as government will no longer tolerate indolence on any of it’s sites.
The Governor disclosed that the decision to embark on reconstruction of Federal roads in the state will be communicated to the federal government.
Ikpeazu said that his adminstration has not received any refund from the Federal government for federal roads done by the State government.
According to him, “whether i get a refund or not is immaterial. My concern is the welfare of Abia people”.
Governor Ikpeazu disclosed that his government would between now and 30th of January 2021 commence the payment of backlog of staff salaries owed parastatals including
Hospital Management Board (HMB), Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu (ASCETA), Abia State College of Health, Science Management & Technology Aba among others.
According to the Governor, his administrationt’s resolve to commence the payment of the backlog of salaries is borne out of sympathy with the families of the affected staff.
He frowned at the recklessness in wage bill and salaries by management of some parastatals and emphasised that government only subvents parastatals while they generate and manage their establishments.
