TARABA/ A Revealing Tour

The people were not only optimistic that the tour would expose public office holders who believe that government money is national cake, but also yield council chairmen who award contracts on paper only to abandon the projects and divert money meant for them into their pockets.

So far, the legislators have visited most council areas including the most difficult terrain, Mbamga in Sardauna Local Government where the 24 lawmakers had to be carried on motorcycles for over six hours, and Dampar in Ibi Local Government Area where they sailed by speedboat on River Benue for four hours.

The tour has no doubt helped expose some unsavoury happenings. For example, the legislators found questionable the manner the council chairmen spent the N180million special grant released to each of them by the state government. The Governor, Danbaba Suntai released the money to enable them embark on meaningful projects.

The tour also exposed some contractors who collected millions of naira for projects but abandoned them. In fact, contractors handling the 50 housing units in each of the 16 local government areas were paid over 50 per cent of the contract sum, yet they abandoned the work.

At Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Area, the contractor handling the General Hospital project collected over 95 per cent of the contract sum but abandoned the project site. Again, contractors handling Millennium Development Goals projects in some councils either did shoddy jobs or were working at snail speed.

Hon. Gbana told Across Nigeria that the lawmakers would take decisive resolutions and communicate same to the Governor for necessary action. This, it was gathered, may include revocation of some of the contracts, reprimanding chairmen that did not perform to expectation, and compelling erring contractors to refund money to the state government or face prosecution. However, performing chairmen, the legislators assured, would be recommended for reward.

Repor By Ben Adaji