Written by: Ovie Kingsley Adasaji
The Honourable Commissioner for Energy, Engr. Jonathan Ukodhiko, has read out the riot act to contractors handling projects in his ministry, stating that henceforth, the government would not tolerate the delivery of poorly executed jobs in the state.
Ukodhiko who made this remark recently during a familiarization meeting with contractors in his ministry, stressed that the days when contractors got away with execution of substandard jobs were over, adding that the government of the state was doing its best to ensure that Deltans feel the impact of the transformation in the power sector.
He called on the community playing host to projects to be vigilant and protect such projects from thieves and vandals, noting that the Okowa-led administration mean well for the state.
“What government is doing is to ensure that the sufferings of Deltans in the power sector is reduced within the limited available resources, but in doing so, the contractors and the communities must ensure that the projects are protected from vandals”, he said.
While calling for better synergy between the Ministry, the contractors and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the Commissioner disclosed that his ministry would liaise with the relevant ministries and authorities to facilitate prompt payment for jobs well executed.
On their part, the contractors speaking through the Managing Director of Power House LTD, Sylvester Ukwandi, thanked the commissioner for the meeting, promising to put in their best in the discharge of their duties. He outlined delay in payment for jobs done, vandalization of power installations as well as delay by BEDC to connect completed projects to the national grid, as some of the challenges affecting their jobs. He appealed to the commissioner to look into the enumerated challenges with the hope of finding lasting solutions to them.
Present during the meeting was the Permanent secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Anthonia Ubogu, Director Electrical Power Supply, Engr. Samuel Udi, Engr. Omoraro Efenudu, Mrs Patricia Iniovos-Okakwu and several others.
