Commission inspects projects at UBTH, appeals to FG for timely release of funds

NAN-H-48
Funds
By Deborah Coker
Benin, Nov. 30, 2017 (NAN) The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) on Thursday inspected some Federal Government projects at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), with a call to the Federal Government to ensure timely release of funds.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the projects inspected were already completed and in use, while others projects were at various degrees of completion.
Mr Ibrahim Dauda, Director, Internal Audit, FRC and head of the South-South team on the exercise, after the inspection, said that the team was impressed with the projects.
Dauda said the team was satisfied with the job so far done, but that it was regretable that budgetary releases were low and thin.
He called on the federal government to find ways of making projects a priority and releasing funds early, to forestall the escalation of costs of the projects.
Dauda also appealed to the management of UBTH to prioritise some of the projects and complete them speedily, as virtually all the projects inspected would impact positively on the people.
He commended the management of the hospital for the quality of the jobs and their supervision.
Mr Erhabor Okojie, Chief Quantity Surveyor of the Hospital and the Acting Head of Physical Planning, said that funding was a major challenge hindering the completion of most of the projects.
Okojie said the projects, when fully completed, would meet the requirements of the hospital.
He, however, said that the slow release of funds affected the timely completion of some of the projects, and urged the federal government to assist the hospital with the prompt release of project funds.
NAN reports that some of the inspected projects included the Cancer Treatment facility which was awarded in 2012, that was about 65 per cent completed, the Bio-Medical Engineering Block awarded in 2014, at about 58 per cent completion level.
Other projects inspected were the building for Advanced Cardiac Laboratory, awarded in 2012 and at about 74 per cent completion, Office Complex for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, awarded in 2013, and already completed and in use.
Others included: a Block of Offices for Anaesthesia, awarded in 2013, and already completed, as well as a Dialysis Centre awarded in 2016 and about 43 per cent completed.
Also inspected was a Block in the Maternal and Child Health Department, which is about 95 per cent completed.
NAN further reports that some of the equipment inspected included the Automated Blood Culture System, which has been installed and in use. (NAN)
DCO/JIE/PIO
===========
(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Idonije Obakhedo)