The Nigeria House of Representatives Committee on Works has asked the Ministry of Works to explain the delay in Sukuk funded projects even when funds were available for the projects.
This was raised during the 2021 budget defence session with the Ministry of works.
At a budget defence session with the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, members of the committee on works during interrogation said three critical projects, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano project, the Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan section one project and the second Niger-bridge funded by SUKUK are still running behind schedule despite the availability of funds to the contractors.
A member of the committee Hon. Ben Igbakpa said while the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano project is at 44.42percent of completion as at date the contractor received 62.8billion naira.
Hon Igbakpa also told the ministry to explain how the Lagos-Shagamu-Ibadan section one project is 46.7 per cent completed with the contractor haven received the sum of 100.6billion naira and why the second Niger-bridge with only 42.9 per cent work done with 92 billion naira received by the contractor.
The interrogation later went the other way when Hon Igbakpa asked the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, why the funds did not reflect in the Appropriation Act 2020, who vetted the interim valuation certificate for the contractors and what mechanism was used to monitor the level of work done by the contractors?
The committee of works later directed the ministry to bring budgetary provision for the three critical projects.