KEY POINTS
- The Federation of Construction Industry takes on the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi for policy flip-floppings and contract cancellations.
- Many construction workers report being forced to leave their workplaces for various reasons such as delayed payments and inconsistent project funding.
- Members of the industry want the minister to abide by the agreements made while mounting pressure on other stakeholders to enhance their interaction.
The Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) has criticised the ‘flip-flop’ policies of the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi stating that the minister puts a break to the industry through contract price fixation and project cancellation.
Delivering his speech during 68th Annual General Meeting of the construction workers’ union in Abuja, FOCI president Chief Vincent Barrah accused the minister of not following standard contract conditions that have resulted into mass sacking in the construction industry.
According to Barrah, many employees have been fired because the ministry did not finance the final works, and it is wrong to set contract prices and non-contractual contracts.
Termination of employees and project delays due to changes in Policies
Contractors and other stakeholders in the construction industry have complained strongly of Umahi leadership especially in the use of concrete mixture on roads which many contractors have deemed as unworkable given previous efforts.
The president of the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association, Ayodeji Adeyemo, expressed his disappointment at the minister’s poor interaction saying that “Umahi has become an irrelevant figure to stakeholders.”
Critics of Umahi’s administration accused him of reversing policies and canceling projects which have immensely impacted job losses, further to this, leaders of the industry complained that there was lack of open communication and poor compliance to contractual agreements.
