NAN-HG-11
Projects
By Vivian Ihechu
Lagos, Nov. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) on Tuesday inspected some capital projects in some health institutions in Lagos.
The Head of Monitoring and Evaluation of the commission, Alhaji Moshood Tijani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the inspection was to ascertain the extent of work done carried out on the projects.
The verification team comprised some people drawn from various departments in the commission, including Mr Aminu Idris, who represented the Federal Ministry of Health.
The team accessed projects at the National Orthopedic Hospital (NOHI), Igbobi, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Meta and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital at Idi-Araba.
According to Tijani, the inspection is also aim at assessing challenges as identified by the institutions and making recommendations to the appropriate agencies of government.
“The main function of the FRC is to ensure the good management of national resources such that in managing the resources accruing to the various government agencies, there is transparency and accountability.
“We are here today for the physical verification of selected projects in 2014 and aspects of revenue remittance in these institutions.
“This is in accordance with our vision to create an enduring framework for effective and transparent financial management in Nigeria.
“So, it is our hope that this visit will bring to light, the need before these hospitals to be well funded, so that critical projects can be concluded.
Tijani stated: “we have a template that they should give us a template on when the project started, how much has been given and what is required to complete the project’’.
At the NOHI, the administration block, accident and emergency building, general out-patient building and the theater were inspected by the team.
“The administration block is about the only project out of the four that we came to inspect that is completed and ready for use.
“We have looked at the projects, the building looks fine outside but the finishing on the floor tiles needs to be improved upon.
“The contractor did not do a good job, probably due to poor supervision.
“At the theatre complex, from our inspection, it is about 90 per cent completed and the quality of job there is quite good.
“ It is the kind of project that will be of benefit to the generality of the people who are unfortunate to have cause to make use of this hospital.
“Work at the out-patient department is more or else on hold. We are of the view that the management of the hospital should do everything possible to get the contractors back on site.
“If the contractor is not the performing type, they should take appropriate steps to get the ministry involved to determine the next line of action.
“We feel that particular attention should be paid on the theatre building, which is almost complete, because it is of more importance for public use than the admin block,’’ Tijani said.
At the FMC, some facilities, including digital equipment, radio diagnostic instruments and neo-natal screening machines, among others were inspected.
The Acting Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olubukola Aseru, told the visitors that the management of the FMC had been able to manage resources allocated to the hospital.
“We do not have outstanding projects, especially as our space does not allow for sprawling projects.
“We categorise our medical and diagnostic equipment, buy incrementally and replace when the need arises.
“We also try to increase the services that we provide by having one or two more equipment better than what we have had before.
“However, we have some acres of land at Badagry, given to us by the Lagos State Government that we have been trying to develop.
“Right now, we have a functional small primary health care facility and we need funding to get the site to standard,’’ he said. NAN)
VIV/SN
========
Edited by Silas Nwoha