FCTA, AMMC To Blacklist Unserious Streetlight Contractors

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has warned unserious streetlight Contractors to live up to expectations or have their contracts terminated.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ,AMMC, Chief Felix Obuah gave the warning during an interface with the contractors in Abuja, to ascertain why some streets are in perpetual darkness.

He expressed concern that Streetlights contractors have failed to keep to the terms of the contract, and vowed that FCTA will not tolerate negligence of duty, nor renew contract with any unserious companies.

He regretted that some districts in Abuja have continued to experience gross darkness due to the incompetence and nonchalant attitude of companies hired to maintain and secure the facilities.

Obuah lamented that several streetlights in some areas were malfunctioning, while others are vandalized.

” I am not impressed with the way you have handled the maintenance and security aspects of these contracts. I am aware that this contract is for maintenance and security of street lights”.

“But I have personally moved round your areas of operation and I can say that the city is dark, that is to say that the request for your payment has been processed and done, yet your work is not being done perfectly as agreed.Why must we continue to patronize and pay you when the job is not being done? This is unacceptable”.

” Why must we complain about security and vandalisation? It is your duty to provide the security to guard the facilities. If the bulbs are dead it is your duty to replace them…I don’t think any of you is living up to that agreement you have entered with AMMC.

“That is why I have called you…if you continue like this, we will blacklist such contractors,then we will get a contractor who can do the job; because we can see that this I-don’t-care attitude of some contractors, is not safe” he warned.

The AMMC Coordinator however pledged to work with anyone that is ready to comply with the terms of reference specified in the contract.

“I am not interested in pulling anybody down, I am more interested in the job to be done. I want to assure those of you who are ready to partner with us, we will make sure that we support you and work as a team”,Obuah said.

Responding, some of the streetlight Contractors, lamented hike in the prices of goods and services, blamed the activities of vandals as well as refusal of FCTA to consider contract variation in view of current economic realities as some of the challenges they were grappling with.

One of the female contractors explained
that the hike in the cost of goods and services today is about 200% increase, when compared to two years ago when the contract was awarded.

They however pledged commitment to intensify efforts in safeguarding the facilities, going forward.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji