Around K700 million in outstanding invoices are owed by the National Government to contractors involved in road maintenance projects around the country.
Works Minster Michael Nali revealed this in Parliament today.
He said the current backlog of road maintenance contracts is around K700 million, money which they do not have.
He said to cater for all roads, the Works Department needs over a billion kina.
“The Works Department used to have equipment with the PTB (plant and transport board) and when we had road issues, they would step in to assist. But today, the Works Department cannot. We know this.
“So we have contractors who have taken their place to fix all these roads. Mr Speaker as I speak, I must tell Parliament and the country the truth; I need K700 million to pay outstanding invoices.
“In the same K700 million, I need to pay outstanding contracts.
“On top of this I need money to put in with projects with development partners to fix some of our roads.
“I need close to K1.2 to K1.3 billion a year to restore the road to acceptable conditions,” he said.
(Works Minster Michael Nali in Parliament today)