Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo has warned contractors handling projects in the state not to bribe any government official.
The governor gave the warning on Wednesday in Owerri when he met with the contractors at Ikemba Ojukwu Convention Centre.
He accused some contractors of indulging in the illegal act in the belief that it would influence government to release funds for the projects.
Okorocha warned the contractors that such act would be counter-productive.
?He also expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace at which some contractors were executing government projects and urged them to ensure timely completion of projects.
The governor directed contractors handling hospital projects in the 27 local government areas of the state to complete them by the end of September.
He assured the contractors that his administration would not owe those who executed projects on schedule and in accordance with specifications.
Okorocha, however, commended some of the contractors for being patient with the government over the delay in payment for some jobs already completed.
In another development, Imo state Ministry of Transport has suspended the collection of fees on its behalf by individuals and organisations.
The suspension order followed the discovery that some group of people had been collecting arbitrary fees from unsuspecting motorists, commercial tricycle operators and traders in the state.
In a statement issued in Owerri on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Transport and Public Utilities, Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, directed all revenue contractors to the ministry to cease functioning on its behalf. ?
He said that security agents had been notified to apprehend any person or organisation that posed as revenue contractor to the ministry.
The statement added that the public would be notified after the review of the fees to be paid by the affected residents of the state. ?(NAN)