Ekiti State SUBEB to Blacklist Contractors Who Violate Agreement
In a bid to ensure the successful execution of the 2023 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Intervention Projects, the Chairman of Ekiti State SUBEB, Femi Akinwumi, has warned that any contractor who violates the contract agreement will be blacklisted and made to refund the money collected.
Speaking at the bid opening ceremony in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Akinwumi emphasized that the state government will not tolerate substandard jobs or delays in the execution of projects by contractors. He assured contractors participating in the tendering process of a level playing ground but warned against the violation of the contract agreement.
The 2023 UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects involve the construction of blocks of classrooms, water system toilets with deep wells, overhead tanks, and generators, procurement of furniture items for teachers and pupils, and perimeter fencing of school premises. Akinwumi stated that the board would ensure strict compliance with the UBEC/SUBEB guidelines and the state procurement law in awarding the contracts.
"No contractor with a history of abandoned projects, invalid tax clearance, low financial capability, or doubtful records will be considered for award of contracts by Ekiti SUBEB," he said.
Akinwumi reiterated the state government’s resolve to pay contractors in full after the successful completion of their contracts, calling on them to deliver the jobs on time. He described the occasion as "another remarkable effort of the governor, Biodun Oyebanji, in turning around infrastructures in the state’s public primary schools."
The SUBEB chairman lauded Governor Oyebanji for his achievements in providing an enabling environment for the development of the basic education sector. He highlighted the payment of running grants to schools, procurement and distribution of instructional materials, and training and retraining of teachers as evidence of the present administration’s commitment to prioritizing teachers’ welfare and development of schools’ infrastructures.
Akinwumi also commended the governor for "payment of car and housing loans to teachers and elevation of degree-holding teachers from Grade Level 15 to Grade Level 16 among other record-breaking achievements." He noted that the governor had assured the readiness to approve payment of counterpart funds for the 2024 (UBEC/SUBEB) intervention projects, in addition to the payment of over N1.3 billion for the execution of the SUBEB projects.
By taking a firm stance against contractors who violate agreements, Ekiti State SUBEB aims to ensure the efficient execution of the 2023 UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects and provide a conducive teaching and learning environment for public primary schools in the state.
