– The House of Representatives committee on public procurement summons three government officials over alleged payment of N17 billion for procurement of office equipment
– The officials in question are the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, the auditor-general of the federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, and former accountant-general of the federation, Jonah Otunla
– The lawmakers say Kemi Adeosun must provide documents that include the president’s approval for the contract, agreement signed by the contractors and record of payment of the contract by the ministry
The House of Representatives committee on public procurement on Thursday, June 1, summoned the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, over alleged payment of N17 billion for procurement of office equipment.
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It also summoned the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, and former Accountant-General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, over the transaction.
The three top officials are to appear before the committee members on Tuesday, June 6, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Kemi Adeosun is to appear before the House of Representatives committee on public procurement on Tuesday, June 6.
Their invitation was sequel to their failure to appear at the public hearing on the allegation organised by the committee on Thursday, June 1.
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The minister sent the permanent secretary in the ministry, Isa Dutse, to represent her, but the lawmakers refused to accept any excuse for her absence at the investigative hearing.
Before issuing the summons, the chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, said the three officials had violated the provisions of section 15 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 as it pertained to the role of procurement entities.
He told the permanent secretary that the minister must provide documents that include the president’s approval for the contract, agreement signed by the contractors and record of payment of the contract by the ministry.
He said the summons became necessary because there was a document from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation showing that they had paid N17 billion on the contract.
Mr. Oke added that public procurement regulation was the only way to curb corruption in the country.
Meanwhile, the acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, has urged executors of the Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) of the Federal Government to ensure their activities change the current socio-economic situation in the country.
ZENITHBLOG.com learnt that Osinbajo said this in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving a portal donated by the management of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) for use in the monitoring and evaluation of the School Feeding Programme under the SIP.
The acting President stated that the private sector has an active role to play in the implementation of government schemes.
In the video below, ZENITHBLOG.com TV asks Nigerians if they can name any achievement of President Muhammadu Buhari two years into his administration.
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