The House of Representatives has taken action to address the growing issue of delayed and abandoned government projects. During a public hearing today, lawmakers discussed a proposed amendment to the Public Procurement Act that would punish contractors for failing to complete projects on time.
However, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, and his predecessor, Emeka Ezeh, disagreed with the proposal. They believe that penalties for delays are already covered in contracts and that the real issue lies in poor project management and funding problems, not in the law itself.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Unyime Idem, disagreed with this view. He highlighted the widespread issue of contractors delaying projects to ask for more money and blamed this practice for slowing down Nigeria’s development. Idem also pointed to countries like Egypt, where contractors work hard to finish projects quickly, as an example of what Nigeria should aim for.
With many projects facing delays and increased costs, lawmakers are pushing for stronger laws to ensure projects are completed on time and with better management, helping Nigeria achieve real development.
