The House of Representatives Committee on Works has expressed its readiness to ensure proper oversight of the Federal Ministry of Works and its parastatals ensuring there is value for any funds appropriated for road construction and rehabilitation in Nigeria.
Chairman of the House Committee Hon Akin Alabi gave the assurance during the inaugural meeting of the Committee in Abuja. He said that with oversight of the Works Ministry and its agencies, there will be a visible transformation in Nigerian road infrastructure
He pointed out that Order 8 (B) Rule 109 of the House Rules gave the House Committee powers to oversight the Ministry of Works and its parastatals and agencies to ensure that there is value for funds expended on road construction and rehabilitation.
The chairman noted that the job of the committee is well cut out for them as a parliament of the people.
He said that the committee’s intervention was very crucial to ensure that it ameliorated the sufferings of the people on the roads.
“As a committee, we must come up with legislation, policies and interventions that will improve the situation on our road infrastructure. On every sitting day in the House, the committee receives nothing less than 2 to 3 referrals on motions from members drawing attention to road infrastructure in their constituency calling for attention. There is no doubt that the situation of our road infrastructure is highly deplorable. That is why we need to swing into action immediately. Though the last government carried out some initiatives, policies and interventions on road infrastructure,” he said.
Hon Alabi also stated that the Committee which has representatives from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory FCT needs to be more productive and focused due to the challenges in the road sector.
“We are going to ensure that every kobo appropriated to the Ministry of Works will be accounted for and we shall demand visible results and progress reports in line with President Bolo Tinubu’s renewed hope Agenda.
Our watchword will be oversight and transparency, which is why | look forward to working with media partners, stakeholders and civil society organizations to bring transparency into the implementation of the infrastructure plan from the budgeting process all through procurement, construction and project delivery”, Hon Alabi said.
He also stated that the use of concrete may be considered and adopted by the committee for road construction against the use of asphalt which had led to the deplorable state of road infrastructure in the country.
“This committee in this 10% Assembly needs to be much more proactive considering the myriads of challenges on our road infrastructure. As most of you must have watched with keen interest, the revelations Coming from the Honorable Minister of Works from his tour of various road projects across the country, | have no doubt that our job is well cut out for us. As a parliament of the people, our intervention is very crucial to ensure that we ameliorate the sufferings of our people on the roads.
As a committee, we must come up with legislation, policies and interventions that will improve the situation on our road infrastructure. On every sitting day in the House, the committee receives nothing less than 2 to 3 referrals on motions from members drawing attention to road infrastructure in their constituency calling for attention. There is no doubt that the situation of our road infrastructure is highly deplorable. That is why we need to swing into action immediately. Though the last government carried out some – initiatives, policies and interventions on road infrastructure we need to review some of these ideas and determine the workability or effectiveness in addressing our general concerns, he said.
Some of the agencies that the House Committee would ensure proper oversight include the Office of Surveyor-General of the Federation, OSGOF, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria COREN, School of Surveying Oyo State and the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Survey RECTAS amongst others.
Dominica Nwabufo
