Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) has described as totally untrue, unfounded and misleading report alleging favouritism in the award of N6.7billion UBEC contracts.
Chairman of the board, Vera Nwadinobi stated this on Wednesday in Awka during a press conference over media speculation that political patronage lists of contractors who never bidded for the projects hijacked the process.
She made reference to a publication titled “Soludo’s Two Years: Tension in Anambra as ICPC, other Anti Graft Agencies Invite ASUBEB Over N6.7bn UBEC Contracts”.
While allaying fears among those who erroneously thought the fund had been diverted, ASUBEB boss urged the public to disregard the said report.
She said, “The implication of the foregoing is that it is not true that contracts were awarded to contractors who did not bid for the jobs.
“The financial bid opening was done publicly after which the most responsive bids were selected for award of contracts.
“All the bids received underwent through technical evaluation and those that were found competent enough were recommended for the next stage of the procurement process which is financial bid opening.”
Nwadinobi further noted that the Board had recorded tremendous development in ensuring due process, transparency and efficient service delivery, revealing that the Board got waiver from Governor Soludo to post Procurement Officers to it.
She however disclosed that one Uchenna Ezeani, former Director of PRS in the Board engaged in unwholesome practices, prompting investigation on him by the EFCC for abuse of office.
“The procurement cadre was newly established in the state civil service following Mr Governor’s insistence on due process in award of contracts.
“This led to the establishment of a Bureau on Public Procurement in the state and subsequent staffing of the bureau,” she noted.
