How Civil Servants Awarded Billion-Naira Contracts without Minister’s Knowledge, Wike spills
- FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected claims that his administration owes N5.2bn
- He said no new contracts have been approved under his leadership, adding that over N10bn in genuine arrears inherited from his predecessor had already been cleared
- Wike vowed to resist pressure from hired protesters and corrupt officials, stressing that only duly approved projects backed by funds would be paid
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has refuted claims by a group of local contractors that his administration is indebted to them to the tune of N5.2 billion.
He maintained that the disputed projects were never approved by him but were irregularly awarded by civil servants acting without authority.
Source: Facebook
Contractors protest at Wike's residence
On Monday, aggrieved contractors stormed the minister’s residence with placards, accusing the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of refusing to pay for jobs they allegedly completed, the Punch reported.
Reacting through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Lere Olayinka, Wike dismissed the allegations. He said his administration had not awarded any new contracts since he took office and had instead focused on clearing liabilities left behind by the previous administration.
According to him, over N10 billion of verified arrears had already been settled.
Wike dismisses contractors' claims
Speaking on Tuesday, August 19, during the flag-off of Phase 2 rehabilitation works at the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa, the minister described the protest as a smear campaign sponsored by corrupt officials who use fronts to legitimise unapproved contracts.
Source: Facebook
“I came on board and people were already shouting that local contractors were being owed N5bn, N8bn. I asked, who awarded these contracts? Civil servants sit in their offices and award contracts of N10m, N15m, N20m without the minister’s knowledge. Then they turn around to say the minister is owing N15bn. That will never happen! Nobody can intimidate me on that,” Wike said.
He argued that the demonstrators were not genuine contractors but hired protesters. He insisted that only contracts lawfully processed and backed by available funds would be honoured.
“If I award contracts, I will pay. But I don’t award contracts without money. Even the Federal Executive Council awarded some, and I told them to hold on until funds were available. Let nobody say I borrowed money,” he stated.
Wike challenges contractors to provide documents
The minister challenged anyone alleging he personally approved the disputed contracts to produce documented evidence. He said his government would not validate illegality carried over from the past.
Wike also faulted the culture of breaking projects into smaller figures such as N10 million or N20 million, a practice he said was designed to divert public funds while delivering little value. He vowed to resist pressures to maintain such practices.
Did Wike collapse in Abuja?
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Lere Olayinka, the media aide to the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, refuted claims that his principal collapsed during a meeting on Friday, March 28, and was flown to France for medical attention.
Recall that report making the rounds in the polity alleged that Wike’s collapse was due to excessive alcohol consumption, leading to a partial stroke.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
