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Hassle is brewing on the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as a result of sudden motion of its procurement division to the Directorate of Company Companies.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, Festus Keyamo, and his associates allegedly orchestrated this transfer to realize unrestricted entry to FAAN’s funds.
Stakeholders at FAAN are reportedly at odds over the tried relocation of the procurement division to the Directorate of Company Companies, sources advised The Bureau Newspaper.
A memo dated October 7, 2024, from the Director of Human Sources and Administration, Dr. Luqman D. Emiola, to the Managing Director and 11 administrators of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), confirmed that Keyamo issued the directive, which was with rapid impact.
Because the aviation minister, he has been vocal about reforming the trade, however a few of his strategies have been met with skepticism and resistance.
The memo obtained by The Bureau Newspaper, titled “Re: Reassignment of procurement division to the directorate of company providers,” partly reads, “Additional to the directive by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Improvement, I write to formally inform you that Procurement Division of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been reverted to the Directorate of Company Companies.”
It added, “Consequently, Administration hereby direct Procurement Division to report back to the Directorate of Company Companies. This directive takes rapid impact.”
In the meantime, following the discharge of the memo, The Bureau Newspaper learnt that officers and stakeholders in FAAN have been talking towards the directive by the minister, branding it as a plot to realize entry to the funds of the aviation company.
In keeping with sources, the stakeholders additionally claimed that transferring the procurement division to the Directorate of Company Service would permit Keyamo and his cronies to award contracts to themselves and whoever they need with out following laid down tips.
“That was how the previous aviation minister, Hadi Sirika, was capable of challenge contracts to his family and mates as a result of the procurement division was below his management,” mentioned one of many sources.
“They need to have the ability to simply put their fingers into the fund of the parastatal, in order that they may be capable of do all of the contracts of FAAN, decide who contracts might be issued to and the way a lot might be given as kickback and the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, is not going to have a say.”
“Keyamo is attempting to duplicate the identical factor by means of the procurement division,” the supply maintained.
In an effort to curb the mismanagement of funds in FAAN, stakeholders are calling for the institution of a board of administrators, noting that it’ll additionally give room for checks and balances.
“If we’ve got a board, a number of the issues we do this we’ve got to hunt the permission of the minister for is not going to be mandatory. The unilateral selections normally taken by the minister might be regarded into,” the supply mentioned.
“We are able to name what is occurring as an influence tussle between the MD of FAAN and other people within the procurement division. These are severe interferences that won’t permit FAAN to maneuver ahead. We must always ensure that the board is in place and every little thing is completed in keeping with the legal guidelines.”
“The procurement needs to be moved again to the place the Act states that it needs to be to keep away from secrecy in issuing of contracts and spending of funds,” one other supply mentioned.
Bureau Of Public Procurement Intervention
A doc additionally obtained by The Bureau Newspaper reveals how the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) tried to appropriate the motion of the procurement division, branding it as an ‘anomaly’ and ‘not in keeping with the institution legislation and tips’.
The BPP, in a memo to the Managing Director of FAAN dated August 6, 2024, acknowledged that in response to the provisions of the Public Procurement Acts, 2007, the procurement division should be a full-fledged division reporting on to the Workplace of the Accounting Officer.
The BPP famous that transferring the procurement division to a different division will streamline and prohibit the procurement division to tenders perform solely, opposite to the provisions of the Procurement Act, 2007, Procurement Procedural Handbook and SGF Extant Round.
The BPP urged the MD of FAAN to adjust to the Procurement Act and make the procurement division stand by itself.
The memo partly reads: “Bureau hereby requests that the Managing Director takes all mandatory steps and measures in direction of correcting the anomalies by implementing the next, as supplied beneath:
The Procurement Division to made a full-fledged Division domiciled below the Workplace of the Accounting Officer;
“The Procurement Division shall report on to the Accounting Officer and never by means of or below one other Division;
“The capabilities and schedules of the Division/Officers shall be in compliance with the provisions of the PPA, 2007, Procurement Procedural Handbook and SGF Extant Round;
“The organogram needs to be reviewed to mirror the Procurement Division as being below the Accounting Officer and in alignment with the scheme of Service for Procurement Officers, as accredited by the Nationwide Council on Institution; and
“Set up an In-Home Capability Coaching for the Administration and different Key Officers of the Company on the Rules and Practices of Procurement in keeping with related Regulation and tips.”
Nonetheless, efforts to get the Minister of Aviation to react to the allegations weren’t profitable, as he didn’t reply to calls and messages despatched to his cell line.
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