The Nigerian Association of Technology in Engineering (NATE) has challenged local Government chairmen in Rivers state to take responsibility in ensuring that there is maintenance culture within their domain on any project(s) embark upon.
Speaking in a three days training Work organised by the body in Port Harcourt, Vice President South South of the Union, Engr. Chidi Dimkpa, stressed that there is the need to pinpoint the deficiencies in the maintenance culture for all tier of government especially between the Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
He said so far, government has spent a lot of money in building and providing necessary infrastructures without the requisite maintenance culture, stressing that when the properties are newly built it appears beautiful but now he said the situation is sad due to lack of maintenance, adding that in some of the LGAs most government projects some times are abandoned and overtaken by weeds.
He maintained that rather than spent so much money, NATE is now calling on the third tier of government to take adequate measures in ensuring that projects done at the local government areas are adequately protected and care for, adding that the body is also charging Engineer within the LGas to begin to prepared memos about the maintenance of government properties within their domain for the sake of the common people.
He said the essence of the training was to revitalized the culture for maintenance for the sake and future of the common people.
He reiterated that rather than seen project sited by government at the grassroot level to rot, the LGA chairmen should exhibits the need for proper maintenance culture in their localities.
Also speaking, the State Chairman of the body, Engr. Alex Ukpanah, equally hinted for everyone at it small or big corner to see the needful for maintenance either belonging to government or the public.
” I think everyone can participate in what ever level one finds his or herself there should be this culture of maintenance in us because a lot of money has been wasted. This money waste could help in different ways” Engr. Ukpanah said.