The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has warned the newly engaged waste evacuation contractors by the FCT Administration that contract payments would be based on performance.
Wike gave the warning during an interactive meeting with 54 newly engaged solid waste evacuation contractors in Abuja on Friday.
He disclosed that a Task Force would be set up immediately to monitor the contractors’ operations, stressing that payments would be subject to satisfactory performance.
Emphasising that no excuses would be tolerated, the minister urged the contractors to ensure immediate improvement in sanitation and waste evacuation. In the capital city.
“Management of waste is a very difficult job. So, I want to plead with you to see it as an assignment for the development of our capital city.
“So please help us to keep the city clean. It’s a job that you applied for, nobody forced you and I assure you that your payment is not a problem.
“Do the job as required and do it very well. There will be no favouritism. Your job is what will speak for you and you must get the job done,” he said.
The minister warned that he would not hesitate to terminate the contract of any cleaning company if refuse is sighted in their allocated zone.
Stressing that it would not be business as usual, Wike warned that excuses related to bad equipment would no longer be accepted.
He directed the Director of Procurement to carry out immediate checks to ascertain the capacity of companies that were allocated more than one operational site,
“Those who are given more than one slot, we have to know what capacity they have.
“If you are allocated two sites, we will not accept excuses of bad equipment.
“You cannot go and apply for jobs for two areas when you don’t have the capacity to deliver. We don’t want any area to be left behind. We want everywhere to be clean,” he said.
Wike further urged the residents to also provide feedback to the government on the contractors’ performance, assuring residents that their feedback would determine which contractors deserved to be paid.
Speaking on eight months outstanding payments, the minister pointed out that some areas, particularly parts of Asokoro, were not serviced by the contractors for long periods.
He assured the affected contractors that the payments would be processed, but strictly on merit.
Earlier, Chief Felix Obuah, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, said that the 54 successful contractors were selected from over 500 applicants.
Obuah added that the 54 companies have been assigned different beats across the FCT.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Mr Ibrahim Babayo, thanked Wike for the opportunity and pledged their commitment to ensuring a clean FCT. (NAN)(