Group Accuses NIFOR Over Abuse of Public Procurement Act 

By David Lawani, Abuja

Members and Executives of the Mandate Civil Society for Good Governance, MCSGG, have accused the Management of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, NIFOR, over abuse of Public Procurement Act by using an individual to implement contract against the open bidding process provided by the law.

In a statement addressed to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and copied ICPC, Abuja; ICPC, Benin City

EFCC, Abuja; EFCC, Benin City, the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Abuja which was made available to journalists by Osaretin Aimenoyaevbo Esq, the National Coordinator of the group, stressed that it is unfortunate that the management of NIFOR could descend so low by contravening the law in a flagrant abuse of its extant provisions.

The body reiterated further that they are writing this petition as a call on the Federal Government and other relevant Agencies to act so that all monies wrongly appropriated should be returned to the appropriate quarter so as to avoid giving opportunity to this people to continue in their abuse of the law.

The statement read: ” We – the members and Executives of the Mandate Civil Society for Good Governance (M.C.S.G.G.) wish to inform you of the violation of the Public procurement Act by the Management of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm research, Benin City.

” Following our previous petitions, the Accountant General commissioned a team to investigate financial transactions and impropriety in NIFOR and the team was in NIFOR for about one week during which time they investigated receipts and expenditure of the NIFOR organization.

” One of the issues that were highlighted was how a staff of the Institute became a contractor to the Federal Government in the implementation of Constituency projects. He was made to enter into agreements through memorandum of understanding like every other contractor in the implementation of capital projects.

” We are aware that transfer of capital funds to private account is in violation of the public procurement Act as only companies accredited through due diligence are permitted to participate in the bidding process and in the event where an Institution is specialized in providing such goods, works and services, such Institutions are made to participate in the procurement process as Institutions and not when individuals within the organization begin to act as contractors in the Federal Government capital expenditure process.

” In particular we were baffled that a staff of NIFOR and a Director of Research have been a contractor to the Federal Government since year 2022 to date during which time, more than twenty million naira (N20million) have been paid directly to his account as the contractor in charge of implementing constituency projects in two different locations.

” The Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research as an Organization can be approved to implement a capital project especially if it falls within its mandate even though its staff members will be made to draw such funds following the financial regulatory guidelines for public servants. Outright transfer of more than N20million capital funds into the private account of a public servant is an act of corruption especially when such funds are much higher than the two hundred thousand naira maximum limit for civil servants per request.

” This petition is a call on the relevant Government agencies to investigate and stop this reckless act of corruption and ensure that all monies wrongly appropriated and transferred are returned to the federal Government coffers”, he stated.