The Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices initiative has petitioned the Senate Committee on National Population Commission over alleged nepotism and underhand dealings in the award of contract for the supply of Personal Digital Assistant for the 2022 census at the cost of about N100billion.
The petition, dated March 22, and signed by the YTLC Executive Director, Olumuyiwa Onlede, and his Director of Communications and Strategy, Haruna Abdussalam, was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The group alleged that the NPC deviated from the commission’s plan to award the contract to as many organizations but “fraudulently, unilaterally and without due process awarded the contract to Zinox Technologies Limited with the unfortunate intention to receive kick-backs and profit from the contract execution”.
According to the group, “the award of the contract to one organization is unacceptable, unfair to the nation and to every organization that displayed their competence during the bidding process.
“We hereby implore you to use your good office to conduct an investigation, inquest or inquiry on the contract award, reverse the award should your investigation reveal that the award process was marred with irregularity, corruption, cronyism, favoritism and nepotism and allow due process to be followed.
“Order relevant anti-graft agencies to punish any official of National Population Commission found wanting in the alleged corrupt practices.”
The petition read: “We will like to bring it to your attention that the contract to supply Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”) for use during the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have been unfairly, and without due process; awarded to a company without complete technical documentation as required by law, this we believe is for personal gain and on the back of cronyism.
“At the beginning of the process when the National Population Commission invited interested bidders to submit expressions of interest for the contract, it was common knowledge that the contract was too big for just one company to execute and the NPC board and management agreed that NPC shall award it to multiple organizations across six geopolitical zones.
“This is to assure due process, inclusivity, efficiency, flawless execution, competition, avoid favoritism, nepotism, unfair practices and corruption during the award process.
“But to our greatest dismay, the quantity of PDA device was singlehandedly jacked up by the Chairman from the initial 500 thousand pieces advertised to 800 thousand while contract amount was also jacked up and awarded to a single company, thereby deviating from original committee plan.
“The danger of allowing one company to execute a contract as sensitive as this is that a nation as massive and populated as ours will be at the mercy of one organization during the National Population and Housing Census especially when the PDA’s require specialized attention.
“Also, a few members of the committee responsible for the award will unlawfully profit on the back of cronyism at the expense of the nation.”
When contacted, the Director, Public Affairs Department of the commission, Isiaka Yahaya, did not return many calls put through his known mobile phone number.
