Ebonyi State Plans Special Court to Tackle Rogue Contractors and End Abandoned Projects.

The Ebonyi State Government has announced plans to establish a special contracts court specifically designed to deal with contractors who deliver shoddy work or abandon projects midway.

Commissioner for Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Sunday Inyima, made this known on Wednesday after officially settling into his new office at the Centenary City Government Secretariat in Abakaliki.

Inyima didn't mince words when he declared that the days of substandard work and abandoned government projects are over under Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration.

Real-time Tracking System Coming:

The commissioner revealed that his ministry would be rolling out a real-time monitoring system to keep tabs on every government project from start to finish. This move, he explained, would allow the government to spot delays early and force contractors to stick to the rules.

Working alongside the Senior Special Assistant and Special Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Inyima said they would make sure every project meets the required standards and is completed on time.

Contractors to Deposit Cheques as Security:

In a move that's bound to make contractors sit up, Inyima announced he would push for a policy requiring all contractors handling government projects to deposit a post-dated cheque equal to the amount released to them by the government.

But it doesn't stop there. He said each cheque would be backed by a sworn affidavit from a competent court and lodged with the Accountant-General's office. This, he explained, would serve as security against project abandonment or any breach of contract terms.

Special Court to Fast-Track Justice:

The commissioner also disclosed plans to send an executive bill to the State House of Assembly through the Ebonyi State Executive Council, seeking to establish a Special Contracts Court.

According to Inyima, this proposed court would speed up the resolution of contract disputes, cut down on unnecessary court cases, and provide a clear legal framework for enforcing agreements between the government and its contractors.

No Room for Negligence:

Inyima made it crystal clear that his ministry would not tolerate negligence, project abandonment, or poor-quality work from any contractor - regardless of their status or connections.

He expressed confidence that these new measures would restore public trust in government projects and help Governor Nwifuru achieve his vision of delivering lasting infrastructure and sustainable development across Ebonyi State.

"The era of abandoned and substandard projects is over," Inyima declared emphatically.