//ONYEKA-AJUMOBI ONOCHIE//SHARE THIS
The Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has put mechanisms in motion to tackle the National Population Commission over its purported plan to use the forthcoming 2023 population census as a grand rip-off of public funds through unwholesome procurement processes running into billions of naira.
To this end, the group has threatened to institute legal action against the NPC over aspects of its proposed budgets for the 2023 population census.
It alleged that the NPC violated provisions of the Procurement Act 2007, in which it awarded contracts without following due process.
A statement by Akingunola Omoniyi, Head of Office of the Non-Government Agency, urged the NPC to do the needful regarding the budgets.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of the NPC, NEFGAD alleged that the Commission circumvented open competitive bidding during bid solicitation in the procurement process for the award of contract for the procurement of Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs) and designing of E-recruitment Portal for the conduct of the 2023 census.
NEFGAD’s letter reads inter alia: “Your unit rate of N110,242.39 for Personal Digital Assistant; N15, 750.00 for backpacks protective pouch and estimated logistics of N960,000,000 are grossly exaggerated and your approach to the entire exercise suggested high level internal collusion between the Commission and the selected bidders.
“The percentage Customs duty of 20.24% adopted by your Commission is against the government approved rate of 20% for electronic gadgets, among numerous infractions observed in the entire process.
“That your office maintains unhealthy communication with ‘selected’ bidders against the dictate of the Public Procurement Act.”
According to NEFGAD, it has resolved to sue the NPC for violation of the Procurement Act unless the Commission shows cause why it should not take such action, as an NGO focused on procurement transparency and public sector advocacy.
“NEFGAD therefore requests information on Request for Expression of Interest for the contract and evidence of compliance with Presidential Executive Order on local content promotion as listed in the last part of the letter which is hereby attached,” Omoniyi further stressed./SHARE THIS
- Tags: Akingunola Omoniyi, NEFGAD, NPC, 2023 census
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