Determined to ensure that roads constructed by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration in Delta stand the test of time, the state’s Executive Council has extended the payment of retained funds otherwise known as “retention” to contractors to two years.
With this development, any road project would have survived two rainy seasons and certified to be okay before payment is made in full.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting presided by the governor on Wednesday in Asaba Asaba.
According to the commissioner, who was in company with Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, during the briefing, Gov. Okowa was not only committed to the construction of roads across the state, the roads must also stand the test of time.
“What this extension means is that one year is not enough time for us to understand whether a contractor has done a good job, and roads constructed should be subjected to a minimum of two rainy seasons.
“This is for us as a government to really understand how much quality the contractors brought to bear in the road
projects as there have been some complaints about the unreliable state of some roads which do not last as we intended them to.
“So, what government has now done is to extend the retention period from one year to two years.
“At the end of one year from the two-year period, 50 per cent of the five per cent retention fee will be paid while leaving behind another 50 percent; so that after two years and we are satisfied that the contractor has done a good job, the remaining 50 per cent of that retention fee will be paid to that particular contractor,” he said.
Aniagwu also disclosed that the council approved the construction of township roads in Benekruku, Warri South West Local Government Area, adding that the project was situated in a riverside area.
“The Exco also approved the construction of storm water drainage projects along Ogwashi-Uku/Ubulu-Uku/Ubulu-Unor road which is aimed at controlling erosion in that particular area and the reason for the construction is to help extend the lifespan of the road as well as channel water to appropriate quarters.”
“Also approved by the Exco is the renaming of the Directorate of Youth Affairs to the Ministry of Youths Development.
“The renaming will also come with some reforms in terms of restructuring of some departments as two professional departments have been added – one to deal with the issues of investments which will help in repositioning our youths to embrace enterprise and the other is to bring about education and mobilization of the youths.
“It is also, worthy to inform you that the executive council also approved the contracts for the construction of eight out of the nine technical colleges approved in the first phase of the establishment of 19 new technical colleges across the state,” the commissioner said.
