By Awayi Kuje
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has commended President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abdullahi Sule for their commitment to science and technical education in the state.
Mr Abel Bala, Chairman, House Committee on Education, gave the commendation on Tuesday during an inspection visit to the Nigerian Institute of Leather and Science Technology, Extension Centre, Doma, Nasarawa State.
The house also appealed to Gov. Abdullahi Sule to release the remaining funds for the fencing and renovation work at the institute.
Bala said the institute was critical to the development of the state and the country at large.
The committee chairman said they visited the centre following a petition from Doma residents against the contractor handling the renovation work.
“We received a petition from the community alleging that the contractor was mobilised with 50 per cent of the contract sum last year, and another 50 per cent in February this year.
“We are here to verify the claims. We discovered that out of the N188 million contract sum, only N114 million was released to the contractor, contrary to the 100 per cent claim.
“The contractor even used his initiative to construct an administrative block, which was not part of the contract specifications,” he said.
According to him, fencing the centre alone, apart from other renovation works, will consume a lot of money.
“It is in view of this that I appeal to His Excellency, Gov. Abdullahi Sule, to release the remaining funds to the contractor to enable him complete the work,” he pleaded.
Bala said the outstanding balance would not be enough to complete the project and called for a variation to ensure quality and standard work.
“The release of the remaining balance will help, but it will not finish the work. Let us be honest if actually we want work that will stand the test of time.
“We commend the contractor for the quality of work done so far. The contractor is doing a good job,” he said.
The committee chairman assured of the committee’s commitment to continue inspecting projects to ensure value for money and the development of the state.
He urged the people of the state to sustain the support to Gov. Sule to enable him succeed.
In his remarks, Dr Damina John, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, appreciated the committee for the visit.
He said the visit had cleared doubts and allegations against the contractor.
“The committee’s visit has cleared a lot of doubts in the minds of many people, particularly indigenes of Doma Local Government Area,” he said.
The permanent secretary also disclosed that diploma programmes and other activities would commence at the institute once the ongoing renovation “is completed”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee inspected workshop, shaping machines, bench grinders, designing machines, classrooms, administrative block, and the fence, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
AKW/KLM
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Edited by Muhammad Lawal