The works committee’s mandate includes monitoring the construction and maintenance of federal roads and bridges among others.
The House of Representatives Committee of Works has pledged to investigate all abandoned road projects across the country, and sanction persons responsible.
This is even as it noted that its intervention in road projects will help improve the country’s infrastructure.
The chairman of the committee, Rep. Akin Alabi (APC, Oyo), made the pledge while delivering his keynote address at the inauguration of the committee on Thursday.
Alabi also stated that the committee will be proactive in dealing with poor road infrastructure and monitor awarded road projects.
“We are going to investigate abandoned road projects. We are going to step on toes if, that is what it takes for us.
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“There is no doubt that the situation of our road infrastructure is highly deplorable. However, the last government carried out some initiatives, policies, and interventions on road infrastructure.
“This committee in this 10th Assembly needs to be much more proactive considering the myriad of challenges on our road infrastructure,” the chairman stated.
Also speaking, Rep. Inuwa Garba (NNPP, Gombe), a member of the committee, said the constitution of the committee is a significant step toward ensuring infrastructural development in Nigeria.
Garba called for urgency in addressing Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges.
“Infrastructure is key to the development of any country. And given the state of Nigeria’s roads, there’s a need for urgent actions,” he said
Similarly, Rep. Mark Useni (APC, Taraba), called for efficiency and impactful practices.
“The work ahead is enormous. If this committee legislates the way it should, Nigerians will smile at the end of the day. We should all put our heads together to make sure that we change the infrastructure issue we have in the country,” he said.
The House Committee on Works consists of 39 lawmakers.
Its mandate is to monitor the construction and maintenance of federal roads and bridges, survey and map, road research, and the annual budget estimate.
It will also engage with the Council for the Registration of Engineering in Nigeria, the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, the Federal School of Survey, the Ministry of Works, and its parastatals.
