CSO Cautions Kwara Govt Against Payment Of Variation To Contractor Who Failed To Deliver Transformers

•    ... insists on full delivery of 35 transformers without additional cost to the KWSG

The Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), an anti-corruption Civil Society Organization known to be promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability, has cautioned the Kwara State Government (KWSG) against a possible acceptance of the contractor's request for the payment of an additional amount as variation cost on the transformer contract.

The Group in a statement through her spokesperson, Saeed Tijjani revealed that the transformer contract was awarded by the Ministry of Energy to Best International Energy Services Ltd at a sum of 197,512,500 naira on 24th May, 2021, out of which 138,258,750 naira was immediately paid by the government to the contractor as a 70% mobilization fee.

ENetSuD is reminding the KWSG of article 3 of the contract agreement which states that "the contract sum under this Agreement shall not be subject to variation as time is of essence in this agreement." The statement added

 We're also reminding the KWSG of article 7 of the contract agreement which states that "the contractor shall be responsible for all taxes, dues, rates, fees, and charges of any authority or institution whatsoever connected with the contract." He added

The statement noted that any attempt to agree with the payment of variation either before or after the delivery of the transformers by the contractor would be against the spirit of the signed contract agreement and would be against the public interest.

The group concludes that the delivery of the 35 transformers by the contractor latest end of August 2022 without any additional cost to the KWSG is sacrosanct.