Chief??Funkekeme? Solomon, Delta Commissioner for Works, reaffirmed on Sunday in Asaba that the ministry would not pay contractors on any project unless its completion was certified by the community where it was sited.
He stressed that traditional rulers and opinion leaders must certify that the contractors complied with the contract’s guidelines in executing the projects.
Solomon who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the policy was introduced to serve as check on contractors.
He said: “we have involved the communities because the projects are meant for them and by the policy they have become part of government’s project monitoring teams.
“So far, the synergy has been effective and we are?sensitisingcommunities in the state to take the issue seriously.”
He announced that the government had approved the construction of an internal road in?Illah,?Oshimili?North Local Government Area, which led to a major market located at the bank of River Niger.
Solomon said that contract for the job would be awarded before the middle of April, adding that work on the project would be accelerated to ensure quick completion.
The commissioner explained that the approval for the construction of the?Illah?township road was in line with the state government’s urban-rural integration programme aimed at making the rural communities accessible.
“We are aware of the enormous resources, including farm produce in the villages which cannot be accessed due to absence of roads or poor condition of the roads.
“And for this situation, we are resolved to constructing roads in such communities so that food items and other goods can be taken to the markets.”
He said that government would continue to maintain and rehabilitate Federal Government roads in the state.
“Currently, we have spent more than?N28million in rehabilitating and maintaining federal roads and that is between year 2000 and now.” (NAN)