Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

The Senate may probe Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the Bureau of Public Procurement over alleged inflation of the costs of some contracts awarded by his ministry.

Mr. Babatunde Fashola is the minister in charge of the ministry.

The lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye, who raised a point of order during the plenary on Wednesday, alleged that the the BPP conspicuously changed the contractors and costs of some projects applied for by the ministry.

Melaye said, “I draw the attention of the Senate to some infractions and corruption between the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

“The BPP got a letter from the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing for the award of two batches of contracts. The first is the award for the construction and rehabilitation of 10 roads and bridges under the 2016 budget in November 2016. The second batch is the award for the construction of bridges and roads – 13 of them – in the 2016 budget.

“The ministry sent a letter to the BPP, asking that 10 companies who had undergone their (the ministry’s) internal due process and technical qualification be issued Certificate of No Objection for the award of the contracts. The BPP, after its diligence, wrote its first report, giving the ministry a nod. But somehow, a second letter came from the BPP indicating ‘Revised Due Process Review.’ This is now a review of the first one.

“What caught my attention is that while the first was in compliance with what the ministry recommended, in the second letter, they completely changed the list of the contractors. Not that the contractors were just changed, figures also varied.

In the first batch of 10, a contract was given to new contractors who were not assessed by the ministry. After awarding the contract to them, the initial contract awarded for the Muman-Jalingo Road in Adamawa State was given to a new contractor at N12.8bn as against N11bn that was recommended by the ministry. Another contractor was also given a new contract against the recommendation of N10bn; the contract was now awarded at N14bn.”

The senator asked that he be allowed to present the matter as a motion to allow a detailed presentation and debate.

“Nigerians are watching. And I am aware that Nigerians have now opened a ledger for the thieves in power, who are still in power. In a time like this, my expectation is that those stealing from government coffers should suspend stealing. We will keep exposing (them) and if they continue to be in power, one day, and very soon, Nigerians will start shouting until justice is done to public thieves. If I get the motion of the Senate, I will bring this as a substantive motion and the relevant committee will do its investigation,” Melaye said.

President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary, however said since Melaye came under Order 42, “by our rules, we will need the leave of this Senate, so that the matter can be brought as a motion.”

The lawmakers granted the leave and Saraki proclaimed that the motion be moved on the next legislative day (Thursday).



http://punchng.com/senate-may-probe-fashola-bpp-alleged-contracts-inflation/

For what abi are they cleaner than him in stealing?? When presidency too is doing similar sha

its time to probe that strange person...

something is realy wrong with that guy...

What is the need? He will be cleared by the president at the end.

Corruption fight is a ruse.

tbh m sick of
will to may

just gather your facts and probe..
if you dont have facts to do it stfu and sit down