By Prevail Inegbenose
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Land Transportation has summoned the Managing Director of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Dr. Armstrong Ume Takang to appear before it over the award of railway contracts valued at about US$3 billion.
Also summoned is the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Nigeria is Mr. Raymond Omachi
Speaking during a joint committee session on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Adamu Aliero said the Committee has uncovered what it described as serious irregularities in the award of contracts for railway modernisation projects in Lagos, Kaduna and Kano, raising concerns over the exclusion of the Federal Ministry of Transportation from the procurement process.
Senator Aliero questioned why MOFI handled contracts of such magnitude without the involvement of the ministry constitutionally charged with railway development and management through the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“We find it bizarre and disturbing that contracts of such magnitude were awarded by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, an institution that does not have the engineers or technical professionals required to handle the technical aspects of railway construction,” he said.
The Committee resolved that the meeting could not proceed without the appearance of officials from the Ministry of Finance and MOFI to explain the circumstances surrounding the contract awards.
According to Aliero, the agencies would be required to provide details on the procurement process, the source of funding, project completion timelines, and the basis upon which the contracts were awarded.
The committee also demanded information on the designs for the projects, the supervising authority, Environmental Impact Assessments, and plans for compensation and resettlement of residents who may be displaced by the railway construction.
He further questioned how bids and contract proposals were approved without the participation of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, describing the procurement process as one that raises serious concerns.
“As members of the National Assembly, elected by the Nigerian people, we have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that every kobo of public funds is spent prudently and judiciously and that Nigerians get value for money,” Aliero stated.
The committee maintained that contracts worth billions of dollars should not be awarded without the involvement of the supervising ministry, stressing that the affected agencies must appear before lawmakers to account for the decisions taken.
Aliero subsequently excused the officials present at the hearing, informing them that they would be invited back after the Ministry of Finance and MOFI had appeared before the joint committee to address the issues raised.