SGF: EFCC, ICPC investigate infractions in contract awards

The Secretary to the Government of Federation [SGF] Mr Boss Gida Mustapha has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission [ICPC] are currently investigating cases of infractions brought against some public officers in the process of public procurement.

Mr Mustapha who disclosed this in Abuja at the weekend during the 2018 Procurement Retreat for Chief Executive Officers [CEOs] of Federal Government agencies, parastatals, commissions and departments, said any public officers found to have colluded with unscrupulous contractors, consultants or service providers to defraud or short-change the federal government would face the full weight of the law.

“Government will not hesitate to deal with erring agencies that are yet to submit their procurement plans and procurement records of the previous year and current year (2017 and 2018) respectively,” he said.

He also warned that any CEO who defaults or colludes with contractors or found to sideline the public procurement process, thereby acting contrary to the provisions of the PPA, 2007 would be sanctioned.

He therefore urged the CEOs to be very thorough and careful in the discharge of their responsibilities in the public procurement process with highest sense of accountability, ethics and integrity.

He also told the Bureau of Public Procurement [BPP] to be alive its statutory responsibilities of procurement audits, monitoring and evaluation of government projects.

In his welcome address at the event, the Director General of BPP Mamman Ahmadu urged accounting officers of parastatals and agencies to ensure unparalleled conduct in the discharge of their duties and to report all unethical practices in the public procurement process to the BPP for appropriate actions.