The Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) has frowned at the delay in payment of contactors handling projects of state Universal Basic Education Board by Access Bank.
Daniel Ogazi, chairman of the House committee on Education made this known on Thursday when management of SUBEB appeared before the committee for its 2021 budget assessment.
The chairman invited management of the commercial bank to appear before the committee for explanation over the matter.
He lamented that the state House of Assembly is worried by the number of petitions it is receiving from contractors handling the contracts over the non payment of their monies.
"After many of them have completed their Work with others having their work reaching various stages of completion.
"Many of the contractors collected loans, some collected personal loan from individuals where they are to pay back 20% interest monthly aside the increase cost of construction materials in the market on daily basis.
"Many of these constructions have reached different stages of completion and the work have stopped and with raining season now affecting the structures.
"The bank action has also put the state in bad image before the world, that it did not paid it contractors not knowing that the fault is from the bank who have decided on the reasons best know to them to keep our money and be making high profits from it on the detriment of the government and the people of the state.
"It is on this note that we are inviting the MD/CEO of Access Bank to appear before the House on Wednesday, 8th September, 2021, to explain to us in details what is happening with the state money in their custody.
" We have paid our counterpart funds as a state, the money has been lodged in the bank why are they keeping it unnecessary subjecting the state and contractors to hardship, leaving our school structures in bad shapes and now rain is destroying them.
"I want to call on contractors to be patient, the House will protect their interest and their money is guaranteed" the chairman said.
Earlier, the state SUBEB chairman, Mohammed Musa Dan'Azumi explained in details the budget performance of the board and its challenges especially the non payment of contractors by Access Bank.
Dan'Azumi said the governor has earlier intervene on the matter where the bank released about N500million and stopped.
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