Contractors Flay Politicising Awards

Political considerations in the award of contracts have been identified as one of the biggest hindrance to quality job delivery by the Rivers State Indigenous Contractors Association (RICA).

The body made public its view during the inauguration of its new executive members in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Chairman of RICA Elder Emmanuel Ordu in a chat with pressmen shortly after being sworn-in said there was need to review the body especially now that the state has instituted the due process policy, saying in the past, few members were able to land contracts.

The RICA boss rejected the view that most indigenous contractors lack the equipment to execute huge projects. He said such does not obtain now again since most of its members are affiliated to multinationals who have the expertise.

In order to ensure that its members meet up to contract obligations, he stated that there are plans to set up a taskforce within the body.

In his words: “As far as RICA is concerned we  would ensure that they don’t fail in their contract”.

Similarly, another member of RICA, Mr. Nick Douglas called on the government to consider gender balance in the award of contracts. He argued that such scenario is what obtains abroad and should be adopted here as well.

Mr. Douglas further called on government to first consider indigenes when awarding contracts including oil companies which he deployed for adopting segregational tactics.

In the same vein Legal Adviser to the body Elder S.N. Jaja lamented that indigenous contractors have not had a fair share of being engaged in executing contracts in the state.

Elder Jaja believed that it is only by engaging indigenous contractors that the government can empower the people of the state and give them a sense of belonging.

The RICA legal adviser on the other hand hailed the Amaechi-led administration for institutionalising the due process policy, saying it would inject transparency in the award and execution of contracts in the state.