…Says lawmaker abandoned his oversight functions to represent contractors
Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is paying more attention to road projects, despite meager resources and 2,064 projects inherited from previous administrations.
Evidently responding to the assertion of the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Hon. Remi Oseni, on Thursday, that Umahi has misplaced priorities and no plan to fix deplorable roads, the Minister said the ministry is actually working road the clock to ensure that projects are delivered for use by the Nigerian public.
At a press conference on Monday at the ministry, Umahi challenged Oseni to a public debate on the duties of engineers, saying the lawmaker was obviously speaking from the standpoint of someone representing the interest of contractors and not like a lawmaker performing an oversight function.
He said Oseni was dragging the National Assembly which he (Umahi) is part of to disrepute by speaking out of ignorance, instead of seeking clarifications from the ministry on the status of different road projects.
He said he would not join issues with Oseni, as a result of the respect he has for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President, but that Oseni had not attained half of what he has achieved in life and in his political career.
He said: “The invitation was to talk about the 2025 budget. His anger was why I was not removed from office as Minister. That’s the reason for veering from the issue of discussion. After the verification of what we have been doing, he needs to tender an apology.
“His time is very damaging to the National Assembly, especially the 10th National Assembly. However, for the respect I have for Mr Speaker, the Senate President and the National Assembly institution that I part of, I will refrain myself from joining issues with him.
“His job is to oversight FERMA projects, but he left it to talk about the Ministry of Works. He can come to us for information on what we have been doing, since he doesn’t know his duties. I am an engineer. He can’t teach me what I am supposed to do as an engineer grounded in my profession.
“He said I have failed…No one in life ever said I have failed and I have never failed in anything I am involved in and if he likes, he should go and check my pedigree. I believe that God has to be with him to attain half of what I have attained in life. So, I will not join issues with him because I have tremendous respect for Mr Speaker and the National Assembly.
“But I will try to clarify some things. He said I was involved in some issues… Yes, he is right because he sounded as if he was representing the contractors and what were the issues? The issue of Variation of Price and that was a very terrible programme that was eroding the little resources we put in the budget.”
He added: “He should tell the public what his problems are. I am not the one to divulge what the problems are. We are doing our work and carrying even along. We even gave out numbers for people to call and be compensated whenever they see an abandoned project.
“Mr President inherited 2,064 projects, totaling 13 trillions. Mr President has paid so much attention to the Ministry of Works. There’s no way you will expect a project that has lasted over 20 years to be done in just one year. There’s no magic to fix 2,064 projects in one year.
“Each time we award a project, we announce it in the media. It is now left for you to find out whether we awarded it to our brothers and sisters or not. We used 90% of our budget to keep inherited projects alive, as directed by Mr President. Work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Yet, someone is saying we are giving attention to less priority issues.
“The Charter Bridge, the Third Mainland Bridge are legacy projects we inherited. We closed Third Mainland Bridge to big trucks because of the corrosion discovered. We had to reach out to foreign organizations to work with them.
“The president should be commended for giving priority to Ministry of Works, even as he is doing other things like agriculture, palliatives, among others. Meanwhile, we can’t discuss the coastal road because the matter is in court. We are obedient to the National Assembly and the two committees on works.
“However, we are not saints. Where we are lagging behind, we expect to be engaged for clarification. We are reviewing ongoing projects based on availability of funds. There is a transition before we stabilize. Abuja-Kano road project is dear to the president. We have to commend Mr President for works so far certified by the Ministry of Works.”
Peoplesmind
