Controversy is brewing at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) over the termination of a N3.2billion worth of contract after due conclusion of the procurement process.

The contractors have already petitioned the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development over the development.

The petitioners include the Managing Director of Messrs Taj Print Media Nigeria Ltd, Joseph Abu and 33 other companies.

The Commission had in a letter dated August 14, 2024 with reference No: NCPWD/PROC/PTB/2024/002, and signed by Mrs. Esther H. Dyaji, Head (Procurement) for the Executive Secretary, awarded the said contact to Messrs. Taj Print and Media Nigeria Limited, for the ?award of contract for the purchase of assistive devices for the blind at the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

In their petition against the Executive Secretary and his Chief of Staff, Abdullahi Ibrahim Tanimu, the contractors alleged a hijack of the commission by external elements outside the commission and the parent ministry.

They want the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the supervising ministry, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development over the development, to save the federal government from multiple litigations and costs arising from the NCPWD?s abuse of office and breach of the provisions of the public procurement law.

The petitioners whom the commission under the leadership of its former Executive Secretary, James Lalu awarded contracts to supply assistive devices for persons with physical disabilities worth N3.2 billion with a completion period of two weeks between July and October 2024, also led a protest to the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Abuja over the breach.

The contractors are contending that while some of the beneficial companies had started delivering the devices at huge financial costs, the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Ayuba Burki Gufwan suddenly announced the termination of the contracts without notice or due process.

A petition for investigation dated December 4, 2024 and signed by their lawyers, J. B. Damidami and Jackson Bako alleged that the commission?s action of unlawfully terminating and rejecting the ?executions of contracts duly advertised, bided for and won by various beneficial contractors without communication with the respective contractors (was) for the sole aim of re-awarding same contracts to his privies, agents and assigns.?

However, responding to the petition, the commission in a letter dated November 19, 2024 and addressed to the Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, explained that the contract was revoked as a result of doubt and lack of trust in the process for the award.

The said letter signed by Ayuba Burk Gufwani, Executive Secretary/CEO, further stated that the petitioners have refused to furnish the commission with any documents to prove the award of the contract.

?The petitioners have leveled similar allegations against the commission to different places and we have requested that they furnish us with documents that they claimed to have in their possession, yet nothing has been forwarded to us, to wit: any legal documents with the commission to execute the contracts.

?The procurement process was initiated contrary to the directive of the House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters.

?That upon the removal of my predecessor, Mr. James D. Lalu on August 6, 2024, he went ahead to preside over a PTB meeting on August 13, 2024 and issued letters of award on August 14, 2024 even upon my assumption of office on August 16, 2024, the entire staff of the procurement unit had relocated to an unknown destination in order to continue with the procurement process, as letters were still issued out, however, back dated.

?The PTB meeting appraised and evaluated the entire procurement process and concluded that it was lacking in transparency and integrity.

?The said doubt and lack of trust in the process necessitated the revocation of the 2024 Tenders/Expression of Interest (EOI) for goods, works and services for execution of 2024 appropriation as advertised on Monday July 24, 2024, by the parastatals, Board meeting held on September 2, 2024, at the NCPWD conference room.

?Based on the resolution of the PTB, a new process was re-initiated in line with extant laws and regulations,? the commission explained. (Daily Sun)

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