Senate has embarked on investigation of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) over non-compliance with Public Procurement Act on award of N229 million
Senate Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide hinged on the 2017 report of Auditor General of the Federation which is currently being considered by the lawmakers.
The query reads,” Audit observed that capital payment vouchers reference number: NIMC/LS/IGL/1/11/105, dated 25th October, 2017 for ₦229.7 million showed that NIMC procured 22 units of HP blade servers for Morpho BSS upgrade.
“The items were supplied. There was no evidence of Ministerial Tender’s Board approval, thus, negating the mandatory ‘Open Competitive bidding. Public advertisement in at least two national dailies, as required by Financial Regulation 2907 (1) and section 251(ii) of the Public Procurement Act was absent.
“There was an initial payment of ₦103.4 million vide payment voucher number NIMC/01/016 CA/18 dated 19/01/18, representing 45% of the contract sum as against the mobilization fee of 15%. The other subsequent payments were not also backed by an interim performance certificate as required by Section 35(2) of the public procurement Act 2007.
“This is an indication of weakness in the internal control system at National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
“This could lead to poor value for money and possibility of misapplication and misappropriation of funds. Management’s response: No response was received from management at the time of our report. Recommendation: The Director General is required to refund the sum of ₦229 million.”
But the Director General of NIMC , Aliyu Abubakar Aziz claimed that the contract falls within the threshold of the Commission’s Tenders Board because it is classified under ‘works’.
He said that all the servers had been supplied before the initial payment of 45 per cent which represent part payment and not mobilization due to paucity of funds.
He further informed the committee that the amount was meant to procure 22 blade servers to accommodate 20 million enrollment records .
He also said that the contract was a continuation of procurement of Enterprise Servers and Storage Solution and Equipment which was awarded in 2012.
He added that the commission has registered N57 million as at today and 90 servers are needed to register 100 million Nigerians.
He said the commission will on Wednesday submitted N25 billion proposal to buy more server in order to take the whole population.
But, the Committee chaired by Senator Uroghide said that it is wrong for the Commission to continue 2012 Procurement process in 2017.
The Chairman said, “we are supposed to do status enquiry on your Commission because it looks like all your documents are muddled up.”
The Committee therefore mandated the management to reappear next week Thursday and come with more documents to back up their claims .