Human Rights Group Advocates for People Right & Justice has raised the
alarm over alleged plans by the office of the Senior Special Adviser to
the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to divert over N15
billion meant to settle its contractors.
The group claimed that top officials of the MDGs of diverting the money
and using same to award fresh contracts to themselves and cronies.
In a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari signed by its National
Coordinator, Victor Giwa the group accused the office of the Senior
Special Adviser to the President on MDG of diversion of funds and
perversion of some sections of the procurement Act.
Wrote Giwa, Your Excellency, the summary of the facts is that certain
Nigerians, businessmen and small scale business owners and employers of
labour had in 2013/2014 bided and won numerous contracts under the OSSAP
on MDGs for various works in all the States of Nigeria. The contracts were
executed, evaluated and confirmation was given by the relevant authority
and certify action issued for onward payment.
“Sir, instead of prompt payment of the contractors, who had by their
letter of awards, sought and received loans and other credit facilities
from various Bank for the execution of the project, the former SSAP
indulged in selective payment, manipulation and fund diversion, paying a
meagre amount to the real contractors.
He noted that “however, after series of intense pressure and agitation
from these contractors and the intervention of the former Minister of
finance, Dr Ngozi Iweala, in 2014, the then SSAP, incorporated these
contractors’ liabilities in the value of 15 billion naira, in the 2015
budget of her office, under the sub head MDG Intervention 1 and 2 and the
contractors were pacify to wait for the release.
“it is shocking that while the OSSAP is now in receipt of the said sum via
a warrant of release dated 8th day of December, 2015, under the sub head
MDG Intervention 1 and 2 , officers of the OSSAP have failed, refuse and
neglected to pay the said contractors their full sum. But has rather
engaged in diversion of this fund into award of new contracts, for
personal gains. This is in clear breach of the Fiscal Responsibility and
Financial (control & management) Acts, Laws of the Federation. More
so, the officials even in the award of the new contract, have brazenly
perverted the express provisions of section 30 (a-e) of Public Procurement
Act, in that they neither permitted bidders or attendees to observe the
bidding process nor did they cause all the bids to be made in the open.
It’s is further curious that the OSSAP-MDGS knowing fully well that we
have only but two weeks to the end of the 2015 Fiscal year, are still bent
on going ahead with the Procurement process that is anything but fraud.
All entreaties for the OSSAP to channel the funds into liquidating it’s
liabilities to its contractors have been met with an excuse that the
Projects are meant for the Members of the National Assembly.
The constitution of Nigeria is very clear that while the Assembly
Appropriates the Executive Implements so we are at a loss on how it has
now become the responsibilities of the National Assembly to insist on the
implementation of projects that are bound to fail and that will only lead
to increasing the already over bloated liabilities of the Federal
Government.
Consequently, Your Excellency, we are seeking the following prayers:
(i).Immediate payment of the duly owed contractors through the MDG
Intervention 1 & 2 releases
(ii) Outright cancellation or stoppage of the award of new contracts.
Giwa said that the group is an international human right organisation,
saddled with the responsibilities of educating, protecting and the defence
of the rights of citizens in Nigeria, through court action, media
campaign, and public protests among others. We and that they were
constrained to write based on the complaints and authority of the
ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED CONTRACTORS MDGS, NIGERIA.
“Your Excellency sir, permit me to firstly establish and affirm our
unalloyed support for your administration, with regard to the fight
against corruption, especially in ministries, extra ministerial offices
agencies and parastalters. Sir, your excellent fight against corruption,
which manifest in various forms like diversion of fund, misappropriation
of fund, abuse of office and procurement Act and others, is not for your
personal gratification but for public enrichment, so that the public and
indeed Nigerians can collectively benefit from government services or
opportunity in form of dividends of democracy” he added.
Giwa noted that”Your Excellency, your desire to stamp out public
corruption and ensure that public officers conduct business of government,
including procurement of goods, work and services are conducted with due
process and in accord to law, recently led to the compulsory retirement of
over 11 permanent secretaries in varying ministries. These actions among
other no doubt eloquently reflect your unmistaken stance on Zero Tolerance
to Corruption in public offices. Indeed Nigerians are appreciating of the
change mantra.
“But sadly, Your Excellency, your message and effort to stamp out
corruption in official spaces seem to be ignored by certain agencies,
specifically and in this case, Office of Senior Special Assistant to the
President, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (OSSAP). This is based on
the activities of the officers in this agency who are currently alleged
to be involved in diversion of public fund, fund misappropriation, abuse
of office and perversion of sections 30 (a-c) of Public Procurement
Act., in the award of contracts.