The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) over allegations of inflated procurement, including a N97m purchase of Point-of-Sale (POS) machines.
The decision followed complaints presented to the House Committee on Disability during its proceedings on Thursday, where stakeholders raised concerns about the commission’s procurement processes and the execution of some projects.
Abdullahi Ibrahim, one of the stakeholders accused the commission of inflating the cost of certain projects and procurement contracts running into tens of millions of naira.
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According to him, the development has generated concern within the disability community.
“It is worrisome that the National Disability Commission is becoming the headquarters of corruption in the disability community because of what has been happening there,” he alleged.
Ibrahim cited a procurement involving Point-of-Sale (POS) machines as an example, claiming the contract value was exaggerated. “How can a disability commission pay about N97 million for 101 POS machines with starter packs when the actual cost is far lower?” he queried.
He further alleged that some training programmes and equipment procurement exercises carried out by the commission were also awarded at inflated costs.
Bashiru Dawodu, chairman of the committee, said the panel would investigate the allegations to determine whether due process was followed in the award of contracts and implementation of projects by the commission.
Members of the committee acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but stressed that stakeholders must provide documentary evidence to substantiate the claims.
Earlier in his presentation before the panel, Ayuba Gufwan, executive secretary of the commission said his administration had already taken steps to address procurement irregularities discovered shortly after he assumed office in August 2024.
Gufwan explained that although his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took effect on August 6, 2024, he could not immediately resume duties due to hospitalisation following an accident and only assumed office about two weeks later.
According to him, upon resumption he discovered that his predecessor had presided over the award of some contracts during the interim period, a development he described as irregular.
“Upon resumption about two weeks afterwards, I was shocked to discover that my predecessor, who should have handed over on the 6th, took decisive decisions on behalf of the commission as a former executive secretary,” he told the committee.
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He explained that the commission’s Procurement Tenders Board (PTB) subsequently reviewed the contracts and declared them illegal.
“So we summoned a meeting of the PTB and the decision was reached that all of the procurements that the former ES presided over were illegal, null and void. Those contracts were revoked and a new process was initiated for the 2024 procurement,” he said.
The Executive Secretary assured lawmakers that detailed documentation on the procurement process would be submitted to the committee for scrutiny.
