The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has warned newly engaged waste evacuation contractors under the FCT Administration that their payments will be strictly performance-based.

Wike issued the warning during an interactive meeting with 54 newly contracted solid waste evacuation companies in Abuja on Friday.

He disclosed that a task force would be set up immediately to monitor the contractors’ operations, stressing that payments would only be made upon satisfactory performance.

Emphasising that no excuses would be tolerated, the minister urged the contractors to ensure immediate improvement in sanitation and waste evacuation across the capital city.

“Management of waste is a very difficult job. So, I want to plead with you to see it as an assignment for the development of our capital city.

“So please help us to keep the city clean. It’s a job that you applied for; nobody forced you, and I assure you that your payment is not a problem.

“Do the job as required and do it very well. There will be no favouritism. Your job is what will speak for you, and you must get the job done,” he said.

The minister warned that he would not hesitate to terminate the contract of any company if refusal was observed in its allocated zone.

Stressing that it would not be business as usual, Wike stated that excuses relating to faulty equipment would no longer be accepted.

He directed the Director of Procurement to conduct immediate checks to verify the capacity of companies that had been allocated more than one operational site.

Wike also urged residents to provide feedback to the government on the contractors’ performance, assuring them that such feedback would determine which contractors deserved to be paid.

Speaking on the eight months’ outstanding payments, the minister noted that some areas, particularly parts of Asokoro, had not been serviced by the contractors for long periods.

He assured the affected contractors that the payments would be processed, but strictly on merit.

Payments for waste evacuation in FCT now performance-based — Wike