Our Attention has been drawn to a fallacious story published on page 13 of the Punch Newspaper ofThursday, 22nd of September, 2016.
In the report, it was alleged that two officials of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) have been arrested in connection with Fraud in the Award of the 710 contracts at SUBEB.
No official of the Benue SUBEB has been arrested in connection with the N7.6billion contracts at SUBEB, the ongoing investigation at SUBEB is in connection with the teachers’ Salary account at SUBEB, between January, 2011- January, December 2015.
On Tuesday this week, men from the police headquarters stormed the headquarters of the Board in connection with an investigation into the salary account of the Board, within the period of January 2011- January, 2015.
The reason for the presence of the police at the board is due to the failure of Mr Paul Mella(Cashier 2) and Jacob Ageva (Cashier 1) to furnish the police with details concerning the account, despite the Directive of the Chairman, Dr Philip Tachin to the cashiers to cooperate with the police.
The police have extracted useful information from the two cashiers concerning the account under the last administration.
So the claim that the Arrest is in connection with the N7.6b contracts is mischievous and blatant falsehood.
On the claim that Due process was not followed in the award of the contracts for the Renovation and construction of 710 primary schools at SUBEB, those who are aware of events at Benue SUBEB and the state can recall that on the 4th of March, 2016, the Benue SUBEB publicly Advertised the Pre-qualification Notice and Invitation for Tender for the 4th Quarter 2011- 4th quarter 2015.
This was advertised in three National papers, and one local paper.
Pre-qualification notices were submitted, and not less than 1500 companies were qualified to bid for the 715 contracts.
The opening of bids for the contracts was also done in the full glare of the public for the first time in the state on the 27th of may, 2016.
Since the number of companies that bidded for the Contracts was more than twice the number of available contracts, there was no way every company will be awarded a contract at SUBEB.
For one to now relate the ongoing investigation into a Bank Accounts at SUBEB under the last administration to the current Renovation/Construction of primary schools amounts to blatant falsehood and mischief, and must be dismissed by members of the public.
Signed:
Sar Erdoo,
Information Officer, Benue State universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
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