‘It’ll not work again’ — Wike cautions road contractors against budget variation

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), has cautioned contractors handling the rehabilitation of roads in the nation’s capital against contract variations.

Wike spoke on Monday during the flagging-off of the rehabilitation of 135 roads in the FCT. 

Wike assured that the FCT administration would not owe any contractor to enable them to complete the project within the agreed timeline. 

He said the road rehabilitation project is slated to be completed in six months.

“To the contractors, let me warn you now, all these things you are doing with engineering services will not work again,” NAN quoted Wike as saying. 

“Nothing like variation; it will not work. Kobo, one naira, in the next seven days it becomes N15, it will not work again; it will not work, so don’t even try it. There is no variation in this job.

“We have the money to pay you. So, if you like to go to engineering services and do anything with them, it will not work.

“We are paying you your money and I assure you that nobody will owe you a dime. We are going to pay you and you must finish within the time we have agreed with you.”

The minister also cautioned Olusade Adesola, FCTA permanent secretary, against proposing any price reconsideration document. 

He urged residents to support the contractors to enable them to finish the job on time, adding that no development comes without “some pains”.

While speaking, the permanent secretary said the projects involved the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 135 existing roads and remedial works on bridges in various districts of the FCT.