Idris Ahmed, Lafia.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the alleged over N1 billion released in 2018 for the renovation and fencing of Secondary schools has indicted the former Commissioner for Education and now the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Tijani and asked to refund over N248.5 million as unaccounted funds to the coffer of the state government.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Daniel Oga Ogazi, ( APC- Kokona East), has disclosed while presenting the committee’s reports during the House proceeding in Lafia on Monday(Today)
Speaker of the House after receiving the reports slated tommorow Tuesday,June 2nd,2020. for deliberation on the report.
Hon Ogazi said ” the former Commissioner displayed blatant inefficiency, incompetency and ineffectiveness in the performance of his official duties.”
According to him, based on the committee’s findings, the total sum of N873, 233,942.60 was expended based on information from the payment Voucher (PVs) excluding 5% deductions for Monitoring and Evaluation (M $ E) as payments for the completed and uncompleted projects.
“During our investigation, we have summoned the Commissioner for Education, principal officers and management staff, the former Permanent Secretary of the ministry, the former Commissioner for Education and now SSG, Commissioner for Works, his principal officers as well as the contractors that handled various works.
“During our investigation, the SSG has agreed that he will take responsibility of his action.
“The total contract sum released was N1, 084,000,000 Naira only, if N873, 233,942.60 is deducted from the total contract sum this will amount to N210, 766, 057.40.
“Then add 5% Monitoring and Evaluation which is N37, 718, 499.19.The total sum of unaccounted funds will amount to N248, 484,556.60, ” he said.
Ogazi urged the government to declare state of emergency on all the project sites to ensure its completion.
“All contractors who completed their work should be paid immediately by the ministry and all payments made to the unknown contractors should be refunded to government coffers immediately.
“Funds should be released to contractors who have the capacity and ability to carry out the work, “he said.
He also called on contractors who collected money and refused to carry out the renovation/fencing to do so within one month or be made to face the consequences.
The committee Chairman recommended that the ministry of education embarks on on the spot assessment of all uncompleted projects to see the level of work done and to make funds available for the completion of same in the interest of development.
It would be recalled that on March 17, 2020, the speaker has constituted an Ad-hoc committee to carry out thorough investigation on the alleged utilisation of the N1billion approved for the renovation/ fencing of public secondary schools in the state.
