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Ekiti terminates bridge contract, blacklists firm over shoddy job

By Babs Odukoya
21 December 2009   |   7:47 pm
From Ifedayo Sayo, Ado-Ekiti EKITI State government has terminated the contract for the reconstruction of River Ele Bridge at Itapaji Ekiti over the failure of the contractor to commence work on the project. The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, who made this known at the weekend, said the contract was awarded to Messers Kopek Construction Limited since October 2008, adding that the failure of the firm to commence work on the project left the state government with no alternative but to terminate the contract.

He said the Segun Oni-led administration would not deviate from its policy of transparency, accountability and due process towards ensuring that public funds are judiciously spent. He said the contract would soon be re-awarded to another contractor.

The Information Commissioner also disclosed that the government has blacklisted a construction company, Jobitrade Investment Limited, over its handling of the rehabilitation of the Teaching Hospital Theatre Building in Ado-Ekiti in 2008.

According to him, it is an embarrassment for the government that the roof of the theatre started to leak shortly after its rehabilitation, which led to the closure of the place.

The commissioner, who was addressing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, said the current administration has zero-tolerance for inefficiency and sub-standard services, stressing that the government would not allow anybody to waste public funds in the state again.

On the efforts to select a new monarch to fill the traditional stool of Owa of Odo Ayedun, which became vacant following the demise of Oba Samuel Dada Ojo on June 1, 2008, the government’s spokesman announced that the Executive Council has approved the appointment of four warrant chiefs in the community.

Olatunbosun explained that four out of the nine king-makers in the community had earlier joined their ancestors, which necessitated the appointment of warrant chiefs. According to him, the warrant chiefs would represent the deceased king-makers in the process of selecting the new monarch.

The SEC also approved the re-branding of the activities of the environmental health officials and Environmental Sanitation Task Force.

According to Olatunbosun, the task force, which is also known as ‘Kick Against Bad Act (KABA), would implement the Environment Health and Sanitation Laws as part of efforts of the Oni-led administration to meet the sanitation challenges in the state.

He said the state government has also re-introduced the ‘House-to-House’ sanitary inspection while street trading and illegal kiosks would be wiped out, adding that there would be no sacred cow as anybody caught channelling sewage into waterways would be made to face the wrath of the law.

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