BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

ABUJA-The Federal Government yesterday set up a committee to ascertain roads rehabilitated on its behalf by states. This came as  Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, claimed that Federal Government was owing the state N9billion, being money expended on rehabilitation of federal roads.

Arc Mike Onolememen, Minister of Works, who disclosed this when Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, said the committee was currently going round the states to ascertain and verify claims on federal projects.

He said: “A committee is already going round to ascertain projects handled by states on behalf of the Federal Government, the committee is expected to submit its reports in the next two weeks.”

The Federal Government, the Minister said, did appreciate efforts of state governments in helping to ameliorate the sufferings of people in their states but was quick to add that the ministry had standing guidelines that must be duly followed before reinbursement was made.

“Those states for which works were properly carried out on behalf of the Federal Government and are ascertained and verified by the committee would be given due attention and whatever is owed them will be reinbursed.

“The governor did mention projects that his state carried out on behalf of the government. And l am aware that from time to time, state governments help to ameliorate the suffering of the people in their states, particularly when it has to do with federal roads that are in a state of disrepair.

“However, I want to say that we do have guidelines for reimbursement. I do not know at this stage whether the figure the governor quoted complied with our guidelines,” he said.