House C’ttee Gives 5-Day Ultimatum to Works Perm Sec over Non-executed N1.4bn Contract

May issue warrant of arrest

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has issued a five-day ultimatum to Mr. Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, to appear before them and address allegations surrounding the abandonment of a federal road construction project in Kaduna State.

This project, valued at a staggering N1,461,376,553.75, has raised concerns about accountability and transparency in government projects.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam announced the directive after the Permanent Secretary failed to respond to two previous invitations.

The road construction contract, which spans 115 kilometres and was awarded to Jam-Jam Dynamic Platform Ltd on October 5, 2022, was expected to be completed within 12 months.

The committee chairman while frowning on the attitude of the Permanent Secretary whom it said has formed the habit of treating the invitation of the committee with levity stated that, this time, it will never be business as usual.

Salam emphasised that the committee requires an explanation for the full payment made to Jam-Jam Dynamic Platform Ltd. despite no evidence of project execution.

“Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives has issued a five-day ultimatum to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works to show cause why a warrant of arrest should not be issued against him by the house of representatives.

“This is because of failure to respond either in writing or to appear before this constitutional committee to explain why a sum of N1.4 billion was paid to Jam-Jam Dynamic platform Ltd. for the construction of Gidanwanya-Guaran, Dutse-Waman, Ravi-Saminaka-Kano Road awarded on the 5th October 2022 to be completed within 12 months received full payment without execution of the project,” he said.

He further stated that if the Permanent Secretary does not appear or respond by Tuesday next week, a warrant of arrest will be sought for his failure to address the allegations surrounding the substantial payment made for the abandoned road project .

He explained that the Permanent Secretary has up to Tuesday 29 October, 2024 to respond and appear before it.