Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has approved the immediate release of ₦350m for the completion of the New Kwara State Secretariat Complex in Ilorin.
Abdulrazaq approved the fund after securing a discount of ₦50m from the contractors who were being owed ₦515m out of the ₦1.38bn total contract sums.
According to a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, he said “The contract had been awarded by the administration of former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed, governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq felt a need to urgently complete the project for the use of civil servants even as he pushed for a heavy discount from the contractors”
“As a result, the governor has approved the release of ₦350m with which the contractors will finish the work. They will receive ₦81m after the work is satisfactorily done. That would leave them with the (third payment) retention fee of ₦34m after six months.” The statement said the governor is alarmed that some of the state’s civil servants are still in rented accommodation, 52 years after Kwara was created” he added.
Architect Makanjuola Kayode, the lead consultant for the project, said the four-block secretariat complex will be ready by August 30.
Makanjuola thanked the Governor for approving prompt completion of the project.