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Procurement fraud accounts for 70% of total corruption in public sector
Procurement fraud accounts for 70% of total corruption in public sector
-PRADIN Report
A report by a member of the Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative (PRADIN) has alleged that 70% of procurement fraud accounts for70 percent of total corruption in the public sector.
This is even as PRADIN called on the federal government to appoint and inaugurate the National Council for Public Procurement as enshrined in Part 1, Section of the PPA 2007.
PRADIN identified challenges confronting the administration of effective and efficient procurement process in Nigeria noting that the challenges are largely responsible for the high level of corruption. and the unproductive nature of the BPP
Mohammed Bougei Attah, National Coordinator of PRADIN during an interactive session between Civil Society Organisations and the Media in Abuja recalled that study by a member of NGO Network in September 2010 shows that procurement Corruption (PC-as its now a Phenomenon) alone accounts for over 70% of total corruption in the public sector.
“Despite the huge investments and resources in the fight against corruption – human and materials- over the years, the wastage continues and corruption, particularly in high places is on the increase. ”
“As a fact, procurement Corruption is not only fighting back, it appears to be winning the way. It is believed that over $16bn of our Commonwealth has gone into wastages. And this is occasioned by corruption through abandoned projects” he said
According to Attah the media and CSO Parley is organized as an annual event to support the government’s efforts in the fight against corruption by way of providing insights into the challenges and way forward as it relates to procurement management and administration in Nigeria.
Attah recalled a statement credited to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukayode during a recent visit to the Commission by immediate past Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP,. Mamman Ahmadu that “The Public Procurement Act is not helping the Commission in the fight against corruption”.
Attah summarized challenges facing the BPP into: lack of capacity and the disobedience to the rule of law, saying they include “Failure on the part of the Federal Government to constitute and inaugurate the National Council for Public Procurement as enshrined in Part 1, Section of the PPA 2007, Lack of capacity by the erstwhile appointees that headed procurement and supply chain entities in Nigeria for the last 13 years, and The failure and inability of the BPP to conduct Procurement Audit and submit the Report to the National Assembly bi-annually as required by law in Section 5(p) of the PPA 2007
He recalled that “The extant provisions in the PPA 2007, provides for the establishment of National Council for Public Procurement NCPP was passed in 2007 by the National Assembly, 13 years ago, but the previous Presidents, pursuant to Sections 5(1), 148(1) 4(2) and 4(3) as well as S.171 of the 1999 Constitution failed to inaugurate the Council till date.”
He also noted that “By virtue of the provisions of section 5(1) and 148(1) of the 1999 Constitution as well as the Finance (Management Control) Act of 1958, only a National Council on Public Procurement with the Minister of Finance as Chairman can consider, approve and amend the Monetary and Prior Review thresholds for the application of the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2007 by procuring entitles. So, by implications, the threshold presently in use without Council’s approval is illegal and not correct”
He maintained that the director general of BPP recognized by law is expected to emerge after the Council is put in place to serve as the Secretary of the Council and not before.
Procurement fraud accounts for 70% of total corruption in public sector
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops under Operation WUTAN DAJI have cleared several bandits’ camps, rescued kidnapped victims and recovered arms during clearance operations in Bauchi State.
Security sources said troops of 33 Artillery Brigade Garrison, in conjunction with elements of the Brigade Headquarters and a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), carried out the operation in Kumbodoro forest and Kumbodoro village.
According to the sources, the operation was led by the Commander, 33 Artillery Brigade, Brig.-Gen. S.S. Shehu, as part of ongoing efforts to rid the area of criminal elements.
They added that several bandits’ camps, including Azuge camps, were cleared during the operation, while a number of the criminals were neutralised.
Items recovered include four skeletal rifles, four dane guns, two pairs of boots, three helmets, a power bank, a Startimes decoder, one FN rifle magazine, one AK-47 magazine, communication links, a jackknife, six mobile phones, arrows, radio chargers, ATM cards, photographs, identity cards, as well as several pairs of security agency uniforms and leg chains.
The sources further disclosed that eight kidnapped victims were rescued during the operation.
They said troops are currently holding position within the Kumbodoro forest to consolidate gains from the clearance mission.
In a related development, the sources said troops deployed at Duguri, in collaboration with local vigilantes, recovered 36 cows at Mushen Kura village following information that the animals were roaming the area.
“The cows are suspected to have fled from bandits’ camps due to the ongoing operations and are currently in custody for further action,” the sources said.
They noted that troops’ morale and combat efficiency remain high, while operations continue to deny bandits freedom of action in the region.
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
By: Zagazola Makama
Joint security operatives under the Joint Task Force, South-South, Operation Delta Safe, have raided a suspected herders’ camp in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, recovering arms and ammunition.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 1:30 p.m. on April 12 along the IPO community axis by troops of 6 Division Garrison in collaboration with personnel of the Air Force, Navy, Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and Civil Defence Corps.
According to the sources, the raid targeted identified herders’ and cattle rearers’ camps in the area.
They added that items recovered during the operation include one AK-47 rifle, one pump-action gun, 274 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and four mobile phones.
The sources noted that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal possession of firearms and enhance security across the Niger Delta region.
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has announced the establishment of a quarry centre in Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area, to accelerate infrastructure development in the state.
Zulum made this announcement on Monday while flagging off the distribution of 70 brand-new Howo pickup trucks to the Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA) at the Government House.
The 70 Howo trucks are designed to boost the operational capacity of the Ministry of Works and its supervising agencies. The trucks will enable the swift delivery of materials to sites and faster intervention on distressed roads.
According to the governor, the quarry centre will provide locally sourced materials including granite, gravel and sharp sand to support ongoing and future road projects, reducing dependence on external suppliers and cutting costs.
“We have achieved a lot in health, education, agriculture, security, and road construction among others. However, we still have challenges of constructing roads within the state, especially in rural communities,” Zulum said.
“My administration has established a quarry plant in Pulka with a processing capacity of 120 tons per hour. The State Government spent at least 3 billion to establish the quarry plant”, he added.
According to the governor, due to the prevailing insecurity, most contractors are not willing to work in Borno.
“You know, no serious contractor will take the risk of deploying his equipment to most of the implementing areas, so this is the reason we are here”, the governor reinstated.
“So, we have no option but to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Works, the capacity of Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA), the capacity of special projects, monitoring departments and other MDAs that are responsible for road construction.”
The brief ceremony was attended by the Secretary to Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani, Acting Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Engr Baware, BORMA Chairman, Engr Sadu Auno, the Special Adviser on Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr Bukar Gujubawu and other senior officials.
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
Troops clear bandits’ camps, rescue victims, recover arms in Bauchi
Joint security forces raid herders’ camp in Rivers, recover arms and ammunition
Zulum establishes quarry centre, procures 70 trucks for infrastructure development
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