In a bid to assist the federal government in its anti-graft war, a civil society group-Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has dragged the management of the University of Calabar to the federal government demanding investigation into alleged N3 billion contract scam.
The group has also faulted the hierarchy of University of Calabar for failing to invite credible accredited Non-Governmental organizations to serve as observers at all its procurement award processes even as it alleged that this practice violates the extant provision of the Bureau of public procurement Act of 2007 [BPP ACT].
Titled: “N3 Billion alleged contract scam in Unical and call for investigation,” HURIWA through the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, wrote to the minister of state for education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, urging him to institute a probe panel to unravel the veracity or otherwise of these allegations which have become widespread and weighty which if left without fundamentally addressing them would paint a graphic picture of a government that tolerates impunity and corruption.
HURIWA told the Education minister thus; “We hereby write you this position paper as a member of the school of credible civil society organizations accredited by the Bureau of public procurements (BPP) to observe procurement processes in all parts of the federation in compliance with part v, section 19[b] of the BPP Act of 2007.”
“Sir, we write with specific reference to an ongoing procurement mechanism at the University of Calabar as disclosed in a recent advertorial published in the Nation newspaper of Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013; volume 18; Number 2467 titled; “Pre-qualification of contractors for the procurement of various works in the university”, which was endorsed on behalf of the University of Calabar by the Registrar and secretary of Council – Dr. (Mrs.) Julia D. Omang”.
HURIWA affirmed thus; “Based on information gathered from competent sources, Sir we strongly believe that some qualified contractors with credible credentials of transparency, accountability and zero-tolerance to corruption were carefully schemed out of the process with the subterranean objective of awarding these sets of contracts totaling over N3 Billion to allegedly fictitious companies said to be fronting for key stakeholders in the management of the University of Calabar. Sir, this process of pre-qualification was also not monitored by accredited observers in line with the extant statute concerning procurement process.”
The Rights group further stated; “Sir, for purposes of illustration, competent sources informed us that such good and credible companies with traceable track records of professional competence and adherence to contractual terms such as IGWET CONTRACTORS NIGERIA LIMITED among others were surreptitiously denied pre-qualification based on very nebulous grounds such as lack of Certificate of compliance of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF).”
“This particular claim for denying the said company pre-qualification is false since evidence abound of the presentation of all material document and information to the management of University of Calabar by Igwet contractors limited and duly acknowledged by the authority of University of Calabar and we are in receipt based on freedom of information request of some photocopies of these material information.”
“Sir, we have it on good authority that the said credible company [IGWET CONTRACTORS LIMITED] tendered for lot 5 and complied substantially and totally with the pre-qualification requirements as specified in section 15.0 of the advertorial (aforementioned), HURIWA asserted.”
HURIWA also told the minister thus; “Besides, the company’s profoundly formidable profile among other equally credible companies were presented in compliance with the modus operandi as advertised by the University of Calabar but for no justifiable reason other than the well orchestrated design by the municipal powers -that- be in that academic institution to undermine due process, the said company was not listed on August 16th 2013 among the pre-qualified companies even when it was qualified.”
“Sir, as human rights non-state actors concerned about the institutionalization of the principle of transparency and openness in the procurement process, we believe that what the University of Calabar has done amounted to grave breach of well known principle of equity and social justice and ought to be redressed by the higher authority to demonstrate to the World that President Jonathan indeed means business with the ongoing fight against all manifestations of corrupt practices, HURIWA said.”
On the prayers, HURIWA stated; “Sir, we are aware that recently, President Jonathan promised to do whatever he can using the due process of the law to right the institutional wrongs associated with public procurement which is the key contributor to the widespread corruption in Nigeria. We hereby request the following;
· that your good offices order the cancellation of this allegedly shady pre-qualification bidding process and direct that a transparent conduct of this specific bidding process be held forthwith so that all companies that meet pre-qualification requirements are afforded equal opportunity; and
· Ensure that all the bidding processes are observed by Independent and credible monitors in compliance with extant provisions of the Bureau of public procurement Act of 2007.
