The House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement has given the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) seven days to address allegations of contract infractions covering the 2023 to 2025 financial years.

At a public hearing in Abuja on Friday, the committee also demanded explanations over delayed payments to contractors who had completed their projects.

Chairman of the committee, Rep. Unyime Idem (PDP?Akwa Ibom), said the lawmakers had reviewed documents submitted by the OAGF and uncovered several inconsistencies requiring clarification.

According to him, the OAGF received a total capital allocation of ?337.5 million in the 2023 financial year but awarded eight contracts valued at ?678 million?exceeding the approved allocation by about ?340.5 million.

Idem disclosed that a contract for the training of personnel on the Federal Government Treasury Portal was awarded to Simplify International Synergy Ltd at ?59.125 million, yet there was no record of an official award letter.

He further stated that Hatfield Global Resources Ltd handled a ?214.5 million contract for data cleaning of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) database, while Endee Construction Ltd executed a ?20.1 million project for the renovation of the IPPIS roof.

Similarly, Doysol Synergy Nigeria Ltd was awarded a ?56.7 million contract for the refurbishment of two 1,000kg elevators at the Treasury House complex.

The committee chair noted that these contracts lacked evidence of proper approval, contravening Section 19(d) of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.

He also cited the award of a ?110.9 million contract to Kojo Motors Ltd for the supply of two Toyota Hiace buses, and another ?35 million contract to the same firm for an OMMA bus?both allegedly in violation of Sections 31(a) and (b) of the PPA 2007.

?The committee will require detailed clarification with documentary evidence on the observations raised,? Idem stated.

He further raised questions over the engagement of insurance brokers and underwriters for fire and special risk cover for assets, including vehicles, in the OAGF and five federal pay offices nationwide.

According to him, ?978.6 million was budgeted under code ERGP16194869 for the project. He demanded details on the procurement process, procedure for engaging service providers, and methodology used in determining commission rates.

Responding, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, requested more time to respond to the queries.

Ogunjimi, who assumed office in March, said some directors involved in the transactions had been redeployed from Abuja, making it difficult to retrieve relevant documents and clarifications.

On the issue of delayed contractor payments, he admitted that some agencies had awarded contracts without budgetary provisions.

?Some contracts were awarded without funds to support them, creating gaps and contravening the law,? he said, assuring that efforts were underway to ensure all contractors who had completed their jobs would be duly paid. (The Guardian)

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