Politics
Lawmakers List Gains Of New Procurement Law
The recently amended State Procurement law that allows for more than 30 per cent mobilisation for contractors in the state has been described as timely to meet current job variation challenges.
The majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, in his presentation said the need to amend Section 32 of the principal law of 2008 was expedient.
He said developments and economic reality underscored the need to amend the law to reflect current needs.
Said he, “When you properly mobilise the contractor especially now interest rates and loans have gone high, and of course Rivers State terrain is peculiar hence the need to give contractors sufficient fund to meet up.”
The majority leader further submitted that “the new law will ensure there are no abandoned projects as well”.
In line with this clause 2 of the amended portion of the law provides legal framework to empower the state government through the Executive Council to meet the new challenges.
In the same vein, Hon. Michael Chinda of Obio/Akpor Constituency II submitted that “some contractors suffer from fund after exhausting initial mobilisation, and therefore the new law will reduce such hurdles in the future”.
In the view of Hon. Solomon Sogulu of Abua/Odual Constituency, “inflation rate and other market challenges that arise from cost of materials have made the law crucial to be amended”.
By: Kevin Nengia