The state of the country’s road network has been a source of worry to users over the years. Construction is often shoddy, and in no time, what appears as a beautiful job done turns out to be a big farce.
The state invests so much in road construction, taking resources from other equally important sectors to meet the needs of the road sector.
The Times has noted with concern the poor quality of some roads recently constructed in the country. It has become a vicious cycle of road repairs and deterioration; a wasteful cycle that has seen no solution over the years and decades.
The apathy shown by some government officials entrusted with the duty of supervising government projects also abounds in the country to the extent that contractors abandon projects after collecting mobilization funds.
Some contractors have in the past gotten away with this, because no one seemed to be bothered by this. They were accountable to themselves only.
Instead of engaging the services of qualified personnel to handle jobs, some contractors out of greed, decide to handle the job themselves with little or no knowledge of the industry, and this results in the execution of shoddy jobs. And such people continue to secure contracts because they have “connections” with top government officials.
Not happy with the non-performing contractors, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has decided that henceforth, such contractors will not only be compelled to refund mobilization funds, but will also be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
It is unfortunate that those contractors who put up such attitudes, turn around to exert pressure on government for payment for jobs either poorly done or not executed at all.
This country has no room for hangers-on who will commit blunders at jobs they are not competent. Incompetent people should not be given the opportunity to destroy the image of the good ones. It is necessary that we all stand against this negative practice which has eaten deep into the social fabric.
Thus, the Times urges government officials not to award contracts to people who have been found to be incompetent.
Those who are charged with the responsibility of supervising these projects, must also desist from condoning with contractors to execute shoddy works at the expense of the nation.
The state invests so much in road construction, taking resources from other equally important sectors to meet the needs of the road sector.
The Times has noted with concern the poor quality of some roads recently constructed in the country. It has become a vicious cycle of road repairs and deterioration; a wasteful cycle that has seen no solution over the years and decades.
The apathy shown by some government officials entrusted with the duty of supervising government projects also abounds in the country to the extent that contractors abandon projects after collecting mobilization funds.
Some contractors have in the past gotten away with this, because no one seemed to be bothered by this. They were accountable to themselves only.
Instead of engaging the services of qualified personnel to handle jobs, some contractors out of greed, decide to handle the job themselves with little or no knowledge of the industry, and this results in the execution of shoddy jobs. And such people continue to secure contracts because they have “connections” with top government officials.
Not happy with the non-performing contractors, the Ministry of Roads and Highways has decided that henceforth, such contractors will not only be compelled to refund mobilization funds, but will also be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
It is unfortunate that those contractors who put up such attitudes, turn around to exert pressure on government for payment for jobs either poorly done or not executed at all.
This country has no room for hangers-on who will commit blunders at jobs they are not competent. Incompetent people should not be given the opportunity to destroy the image of the good ones. It is necessary that we all stand against this negative practice which has eaten deep into the social fabric.
Thus, the Times urges government officials not to award contracts to people who have been found to be incompetent.
Those who are charged with the responsibility of supervising these projects, must also desist from condoning with contractors to execute shoddy works at the expense of the nation.
