Tracka, BudgIT’s platform for monitoring service delivery, recently alleged that Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, violated the country’s Public Procurement Act of 2007, and this demands an urgent investigation.
Development Diaries reports that Umahi allegedly disbursed a total of N9.3 billion from the Federal Ministry of Works to an institution not recognised in Nigeria.
According to Tracka, FIMS Microfinance Bank Limited is not recognised as an institution providing construction services within the country; hence, the disbursement violates section 16 (6) (a) (i), (iii), and (iv) of the Act.
The section reads, ‘All bidders in addition to requirements contained in any solicitation documents shall (a) possess the necessary: (i) professional and technical.
‘Qualifications to carry out particular procurements; (ii) financial capability; (iii) equipment and other relevant infrastructure; (iv) shall have adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts’.
The Act outlines the regulations and procedures for public procurement and contract awards. If a Nigerian government official violates the provisions of this act, there should be legal and administrative consequences.
Trust is the cornerstone of any functional democracy, serving as the glue that binds citizens and their government, and in Nigeria, maintaining trust in governance is crucial for stability and progress.
When government officials, who are supposed to be the custodians of justice and law, violate these very principles, there are significant consequences.
In fact, according to a 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer survey, many Nigerians rank trust and credibility as the number one consideration above other factors when relating with government.
Government officials, whether elected or appointed, are entrusted with the responsibility of upholding the rule of law. When they themselves become perpetrators of illegal activities, it undermines their status as leaders and raises questions about the system as a whole.
When citizens believe that those in power can act without being held accountable, their trust in the fairness of the system diminishes.
The social contract between citizens and the government is based on the understanding that citizens will abide by the laws, and in return, the government will protect their rights and provide public goods and services. When government officials violate laws, it disrupts this social contract, leaving citizens feeling betrayed and questioning the reciprocal nature of their relationship with the government.
Furthermore, this decline in trust can lead to political apathy and disengagement among citizens because they feel that their government is not acting in their best interests and is riddled with corruption. This disengagement can further weaken the democratic fabric of the nation.
Rebuilding this trust requires not only holding those responsible accountable but also implementing systemic changes to prevent such breaches in the future.
Development Diaries therefore calls on the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged payments thoroughly and prosecute any officers found guilty under the law.
Photo source: Fed Min of Works
