Gov Eno Calls For Effective Dry Season Utilisation By Project Contractors

By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Akwa Ibom governor has called on contractors handling government projects across the State to effectively use the dry season to complete their jobs.
Pastor Umo Eno, who made the call, Wednesday, at a special meeting with 41 contractors in the State which took place in his office at Government House, Uyo, urged them to desist from going for vacation this yuletide as usual, but should use the dry season to work on projects which cut across all the local government areas, as government was releasing funds for contractors who would be on ground to work.
Eno noted that though the State was not stopping anyone from celebrating Christmas, the contractors must endeavour to use the season properly, appealing that the State must become a construction site within the season.
He stressed the need for them to break into shifts and ensure 24 hours construction to enhance delivery, as a monitoring team will visit the different sites to assess the level of compliance and delivery.
Eno observed that during the Christmas season, some contractors do not go to site and by the time they return in January, the rainy season has set in, and prices of materials such as bitumen have gone up, stressing, “if you know you are going on vacation as a company, please don’t take this money. Let us know that this company will shut down and go on vacation.”
The governor, who noted that projects for execution are up to 41, cutting across all the local government areas in the State, urged the contractors to exercise their corporate social responsibility by adequately involving the locals where necessary.
He appreciated the contractors for being partners in the development of the State, and assured of the preparedness of government to support them where necessary for effective and timely delivery of projects.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, the managing director and chief executive officer of Hensek Integrated Services, Mr. Uwem Okoko, an engineer, appreciated the governor for the opportunity given them to be partners in the development of the State and for the prompt release of funds, pledging to deliver on their mandates and live up to the expectations of government.