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General News of Saturday, 13 February 2021

Source: punchng.com

Reps plan fresh probe as board chair accuses lawmakers of sabotage

House of Representatives House of Representatives

The Chairman of the Board of Projects Development Institute, Enugu, Daniel Onjeh, has accused some unnamed members of the National Assembly of allegedly working against national development.

He accused the federal lawmakers of mounting pressure on the management of the institute to pay their preferred contractors, who are demanding payment for services they did not render to the agency.

Onjeh made the allegations in an open letter dated February 11, 2021 and addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

A copy of the letter titled “Deliberate falsehood and malicious misinformation on my alleged suspension as PRODA chairman: A request for public apology” was made available to Saturday PUNCH on Friday.

The House of Representatives had on Wednesday resolved that PRODA should stop all further procurement activities in the 2020 budget and pay contractors, suppliers and consultants who have executed contracts.

The resolution followed a motion by the member representing Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency of Imo State, Henry Nwawuba.

The House also said it was aware that the Federal Government had suspended the institute’s Director-General, Charles Agulanna; and the board chairman, Onjeh.

But Onjeh stated in the letter that he was not suspended but was asked to “step aside” to allow government probe the allegations the board which he chairs levelled against Agulanna who was suspended based on the board’s recommendation.

He said to confirm that he was not suspended, he had since received a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation asking him to lead other members to defend their allegations against the suspended DG on Saturday (today).

He said to reveal to Nigerians how lawmakers have been trying to amass wealth at the expense of taxpayers, the PRODA board shall soon reveal the true status of constituency projects allegedly being executed by the agency.

Onjeh said, “The irrefutable fact, which I can now assert without fear of contradiction, is that some members of the National Assembly constitute the major clogs in the wheel of the nation’s development.

“Little wonder, in spite of the assiduous efforts of President Buhari to bring development to the doorsteps of Nigerians at the grassroots, the citizens are still lamenting palpable neglect by the Federal Government, because of the huge sabotage being perpetrated by some members of the National Assembly.

“Hence, very soon, I shall break my silence and speak up more extensively on the intricate issues connected to the procurement process at PRODA, which I believe is replicated in other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.

Onjeh therefore demanded a public apology from the House of Representatives, as well as a retraction of the claim that he had been suspended as PRODA chairman.

Reacting to the allegation, the House of Representatives said it was already handling the matter.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, told Saturday PUNCH on Friday that all parties should wait for the outcome of the probe by the House.

Kalu said, “This matter has been referred to the House Committee on Public Procurement.

“I am certain that with all these accusations and counter-accusations between the contractors and the institution, the House might upgrade the matter to an investigative hearing by next week if the committee presents an application for the amendment to the scope of their terms of reference on this matter.

“It is therefore my suggestion, for all parties to relax till they are summoned by the House for a thorough investigation by the committee.”

The SGF, Boss Mustapha, had in a circular marked SGF.6/S.19/TA/211 dated November 5, 2020, announced the suspension of the DG and Onjeh’s stepping aside.

The circular titled “Re: Suspension of the Director-General and steeping aside of the chairman, Project Development Institute,” was addressed to the Minister of Science and Technology.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had on October 9, 2020 given approval that Agulanna be suspended pending the conclusion of an independent investigation to be carried out by the Office of the SGF.

The approval was based on the resolution of the governing board of the institute which recommended the suspension of the DG for six months.