3 months ago
22 ARTICLE AD
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji
Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said on Friday that the state government did not award N1.89b contracts to permanent secretaries.
Olatunbosun clarified a statement while responding to a publication alleging that the state government awarded N1.89b contracts to the top civil servants for execution through direct labour.
The commissioner said that the permanent secretaries under reference were not the beneficiaries of the contracts but the accounting officers of the ministries, departments, and agencies involved.
He stated, “The publication suggesting that government awarded contracts worth N1.189billion to permanent secretaries, general managers and directors general of government agencies is very misleading and deceitful.”
Olatunbosun said that the procurement process was conducted under strict guidelines of the Direct Labour Procurement Law of the state which ensured that procurement activities were conducted transparently, efficiently, and within the bounds of fiscal responsibility.
He said, “The Direct Labour Procurement method is principally designed for projects that require urgent attention and it is well-regulated to prevent any form of abuse or misallocation of resources.
“All contracts awarded through this process have been thoroughly vetted, ensuring that they meet the requirements and contribute to the public good without exceeding the legally permissible financial limits.
“It’s important to understand that the permanent secretaries involved in these processes are not beneficiaries of the contracts. Rather, they are the custodians, as accounting officers of their respective MDAs who shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that public procurement adheres to the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
“Any suggestion that they are personally benefiting from these contracts is not only inaccurate but also undermines the integrity of the civil service”.
The commissioner said that the website of the State Bureau of Public Procurement clearly stated the specific purpose of the projects.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
