How Contracts Are Awarded Under Gov Kefas

·       Governor Strict On Due Process, Taraba BPP Says

·       Save Over 40bn In Two Years

The Taraba State Bureau of Public Procurement has said that contracts awarded in the state are in strict compliance with due process and global standard practices, noting that it has saved over 45 billion for the state.

The Director-General of the Bureau, Assemboh Tanko Shamaki, speaking on the transparency of procurement processes within the state, said Governor Agbu Kefas is adhering to all established procedures in the execution of his duties.

Shamaki, while presenting a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of procurement in Taraba State, highlighted significant advancements in the monitoring and evaluation of state-funded projects.

"In fact, it is because of the fact that he is sensitive to due diligence that you see all of us working here. But the issue is that when he came in, he needed an office to sit and operate from. He needed immediate dispatch or procurement of an office accommodation."

"As it is, in due process, there are many methods of procurement. We have open competitive bidding, restricted methods of procurement, and special methods of procurement. So, you find that if there is an urgent need, we employ any of these methods to tackle the situation. That is why people do not understand and think he is not in compliance with due process."

"In the course of doing all of these things, we go about doing checks and balances. We deploy the procurement audit method, monitoring and evaluation, and market surveys to carry out our checks and balances."

"We just finished our procurement audit a month ago, and we came out with an assessment of where there are shortcomings and the strengths of all the MDAs. Then we look for ways to strengthen them, and we compile such results for the House of Assembly as usual."

He stated that the governor has instructed them to work closely with the contractor handling the Jalingo City water project, ensuring that all payments made are transparent and accountable. This move aims to promote transparency and accountability in the state's procurement processes.

"Recently, he mandated us to interface with the ACC, the contractor handling the Jalingo City water project. We are in the process, and actually, he has paid all the money required in the third arrangement because he said he doesn't want stories. All he wants is to see water for the people of Jalingo."

However, Shamaki further stated that from their activities at the Bureau, they were able to register about 84 companies between 2023 and 2024.

"So far, so good. From our activities at the Bureau and our database, we were able to register about 30 companies in 2023, and in 2024, we registered about 54, making it about 84 companies registered. In these activities, such as procurement reviews and BPP, we were able to save about ₦25,021,727,513.56 for the state. In 2024, we were able to save about ₦20,283,997,690. From inception up to the end of December 2024, we were able to save about ₦45,304,725,203.56. This is still counting; we are still saving money for the state through our activities. Additionally, we save through the imposition of taxes. We ensure that any contractor carrying out a task in this state computes an 18 percent tax that is paid into the Board of Internal Revenue as internally generated revenue."

He emphasized that the governor's administration is committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability in public spending and project management.