‘Government is a continuum’ — FG speaks on contracts approval days to May 29

‘Government is a continuum’ — FG speaks on contracts approval days to May 29

The federal government has explained why it is still
approving contracts worth billions of naira with less than 20 days to change
power.

 

Muazu Sambo, minister of transportation, said the current
administration would continue to perform its duties until May 28 as
constitutionally required.

 

Sambo spoke with state house correspondents after the weekly
federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

 

The council approved N449.9 million for the engagement of
consultants for the development of a master plan for 17 airports.

 

The council also approved contracts for the Ogoni
remediation in Rivers and a contract for the full development of the Shehu
Shagari way for N91 billion.

 

The rehabilitation of several roads across the country was
also approved.

“Ladies and gentlemen, without any intentions of mischief,
this government was elected to function from 2019 to precisely 29th of May
2023,” Sambo said.

 

 “Should we now stop
functioning one month before the next appointment because we’re coming to the
end of the tenure?

 

“This government must work. We expect the next government to
also work until the very last day of their tenure.”

 

Explaining why several contracts were approved, Sulaimon
Adamu, minister of water resources, said the processes involved in awarding
contracts take time.

 

Adamu said if the current administration was unable to
complete what it started, the incoming government would continue with the
process.

 

 “If I may add, there
are processes and this process has started. We’re still operating the 2022
budget,” Adamu said.

 

“These things are not just done in one day. We had lots of
submissions to the bureau for public procurement to Infrastructure Concession
Regulatory Commission (ICRC), all the agencies involved in the  procurement, and they have to get ready.

 

“So, anytime they’re ready, it’s at that point that we have
to submit. And like the minister of transportation said, we’re still in office
technically until the 28th of May.

 

“So, we still have to operate. And this is the instruction
that we have from Mr. President. That government must continue to function
regardless of elections and so on. And so we’re just doing our duty.

 

 “We do not control
the process, but when it’s completed and we’re still in office, we’re
duty-bound to bring these memos to the council to approve.

 

“Some of the very first memos we brought to council in 2015,
for me, I had no idea when they started, but I had to be briefed. This was the
way that it had to be and then we were brought in here.

 

 “So, the government
is a continuum. And it should be seen as such.”

 

He added that the current administration should be applauded
for implementing projects and programs that were started by the previous
government.

 

 “We continued them,
we didn’t jettison them, and we’re confident that the incoming administration
will do the same,” he said. 

Source: ‘Government is a continuum’ — FG speaks on contracts approval days to May 29

 - NigerianEye
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