By Favour Nnabugwu

THE new Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Works, Dr Abubakar Mohammad has  warned directors in the ministry to desist from hiding contractors’ files in an attempt to delay due process for any reason.

Dr Mohammad who took over fromMallam Burka Goni-Aji  told directors from the 21 departments in the ministry to disabuse their minds from the supposition that contractors had come to take away the ministry’s money hence they hide their files in order to delay processing their contracts or certifications.

According to him, “I want directors in this ministry to desist from hiding the files of contractors that are working with the ministry for reason that the contractors are coming to collect money from the ministry”

He explained to the directors that contractors handling projects for the ministry were on contract to provide the needed infrastructure that would help make life easy for the country’s citizenry hence they should not be seen as coming to take the ministry’s money. He added that contractors and consultants of the ministry are very important partners in progress towards the delivery of service and requested that payment for work satisfactorily done should be prompt.

“For any nation to develop, it needs infrastructure. When you have good infrastructure, the country will be able to attract investors that are not only for foreign direct investment but the local investors too will be happy doing business in the country”

Dr Muhammad was redeployed from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to Ministry of Works, while t Alhaji Bukar Goni-Aji was moved from Federal Ministry of Works to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.