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Budget Padding: NEFGAD Threatens Court Action, Says it’s a Grave Procurement Infraction

Budget Padding: NEFGAD Threatens Court Action, Says it’s a Grave Procurement Infraction
By: Michael Mike
The Network for the Actualization of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) a public procurement advocacy group has issued pre-action notice to the Federal Government and National Assembly over issue of Budget interference by the National Assembly.
The group made this known in a letter signed by its head of office, Mr Akingunola Omoniyi and sent to President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas.
Omoniyi argued that projects initiation by lawmakers is beyond the legislative powers of the National Assembly as outlined in the Nigerian constitution and the Public Procurement Act 2007.
He said that: ‘’The power to initiate any procurement proceeding is purely an executive function and lays with procuring entities/ministerial and extra-ministerial procurement committees and such must be conducted strictly in line with section 18 (a, b, c d, e, f and g) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 which mandates procuring entities to engage in planning of procurement in order to prepare the needs assessment and evaluation; identifying the goods/works or services required; carrying appropriate market and statistical surveys; and on the basis prepare an analysis of the cost implications of the proposed procurement; aggregate its requirements wherever possible/both within the procuring entities to obtain economy of scale to reduce procurement cost; and ensuring that the procurement entity functions as stipulated to be carried out by the procurement planning committee’’.
Mr Omoniyi stressed that ‘’the spirit and letter of the Public Procurement Act underscores the need to organize public procurement in a manner that ensures economy of scale, guide against undue interference and by ensuring that the process maintain high level of proven system scrutiny and integrity. Hence, any project/procurement item that does not satisfy legally outlined planning and organizational criteria (as in the case of constituency projects which are inserted midway into public procurement proceeding by the National Assembly) is utterly defective’’
He frowned at the usual practice of the National Assembly to upwardly/downwardly review budget estimates during Budget presentations/defense saying it is improper and unlawful, being that the appropriation bill is an executive bill and all procurement items are assumed to have passed through due and highly technical process of procurement assessment; evaluation; market and survey/price intelligence among others as enshrined in the PPA. Hence, any cost/project anomalies observed becomes an indictment on the procurement planning committees saddled with the projects costing responsibilities, he said such cannot be corrected overnight by the National Assembly right at the hallow chamber.
He however posited that incase of possible errors/inadequacies in the budgetary allocations, the National Assembly can return the entire appropriation bill to the president who will make necessary corrections/amendments through the procuring entities/procurement planning committees and represent to the National Assembly for reconsideration.
Omoniyi said: ‘’The legislative power of the National Assembly is to make laws, and such power in itself is not without limit, particularly on public procurement. The power had been sufficiently exercised by the enactment of the extant Public Procurement Act 2007 hence, any conduct of the National Assembly on public contracts outside of the extant public procurement Act/regulations amounts to abuse of power/over-legislation.’’.
Budget Padding: NEFGAD Threatens Court Action, Says it’s a Grave Procurement Infraction
News
Police repel bandits attack, rescue six victims in Katsina

Police repel bandits attack, rescue six victims in Katsina
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Katsina, in collaboration with the military and local vigilantes, has repelled a bandits’ attack in Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state.
Sources said that the incident occurred on Wednesday at about 1:20 a.m., when bandits stormed Lamuntani village in Goran Dansaka ward but were engaged in a gun battle by security operatives, forcing them to flee into the bush.
According to sources , six kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt. They include Aisha Rilwanu, 12; Zainab Mansir, 15; Munnir Sani, 19; Salamatu Umar, 19; Asmau Sani, 10; and Jamila Nasiru, 21.
The sources added that while escaping, the bandits attacked nearby Santan Kargo village, where they shot and injured three persons Yusuf Yushau, 30; Ismail Abubakar, 21; and Abdulmumin Sani,who were rushed to Malumfashi General Hospital for treatment.
The sources said two victims were still missing as security forces intensified search-and-rescue operations in the area.
Police repel bandits attack, rescue six victims in Katsina
News
Army recovers 164 rustled livestock in Zamfara, Sokoto

Army recovers 164 rustled livestock in Zamfara, Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA (OPFY) have recovered 164 rustled animals during clearance operations in Zamfara and Sokoto States.
Sources disclosed this on Thursday, saying the recoveries followed ambushes against terrorists moving livestock across communities.
The sources told Zagazola the troops, working with vigilantes, engaged terrorists attempting to move rustled animals from Talata Mafara LGA to Anka axis of Zamfara, recovering 21 sheep.
“Similarly, troops of 8 Division in conjunction with Keystone forces repelled terrorists who attacked Garbe Kanni village in Tureta LGA, Sokoto. A total of 143 sheep were recovered and a terrorist camp destroyed,” the sources said.
The animals have since been handed over to the chairmen of Bakura and Tureta LGAs for onward return to their rightful owners.
Army recovers 164 rustled livestock in Zamfara, Sokoto
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Troops arrest notorious cattle rustlers, recover arms in Plateau

Troops arrest notorious cattle rustlers, recover arms in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested two notorious cattle rustlers and recovered arms and ammunition in Plateau State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama on Thursday in Jos that the operation followed credible intelligence on the activities of cattle rustlers in Kogul village, Mangu Local Government Area.

According to the sources, the troops raided the hideout of the suspects on Sept. 11 and arrested two of them. Items recovered include one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, one fabricated revolver rifle, 10 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one mobile phone and cash.
“The arrested suspects and recovered items are in the custody of the troops for investigation. Follow-up operations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal syndicate,” the sources said.

They added that the arrest was significant in curbing the menace of cattle rustling, which has often triggered crisis in Plateau and adjoining states.
Troops arrest notorious cattle rustlers, recover arms in Plateau
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