By Editor
The enforcement team of Bureau of Local Content, Ekiti State has expressed displeasure at the poor compliance with the Local Content law by some contractors handling various projects in the state.
The DG Bureau of Local Content, Hon. Lekan Ijidale, who led the enforcement team on a tour of some project sites on Monday disclosed that despite the government efforts to ensure strict compliance with the existing law on Local Content, some contractors still ran foul of the law saying that government will not hesitate to sanction offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.
He stated that the Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji-led administration will not fold its hands on capital flight while denying the good people of Ekiti state avenue to be patronized in his determined efforts to boost the economy of the state and also eradicate poverty.
Ijidale made the disclosure during an inspection tour of some sites where heavy construction works are ongoing within Ado metropolis.
They include: Revenue House, NTA third GRA Extension, Rudy Construction Company. Others are Leadgate Construction Company, Dominant Construction and Sima Construction.
He stated that the Local Content Law of Ekiti State stipulates that any contractors handling projects in Ekiti State must utilize 40% of our local work force in their project execution.
However he said: “But our observation in all projects we have inspected showed that the compliance rate was very poor. For instance, 10% of our local work force were engaged which is not good enough. Also, they have failed by not regularizing their registration with the Bureau which makes it illegal for them to operate”.
On the measure being taken by the Bureau, the DG explained further:
“Along the line, we have served them with enforcement notice which states clearly that they must regularize their registration, provide proof of their locally engaged work force and receipts of materials purchased locally in the course of project execution and as such we have given them seven days ultimatum to submit our request to the Bureau without which we would sanction them accordingly” he said.
Among the places visited are Rudy Construction Ltd (NTA/Third Extension) Rechabi Engineering Services( Revenue House, Fajuyi) and Dominant Construction handling Ita-Eko/Igirigiri as well as Omisanjana/Oke-Aso construction projects.
