FG warns board chairmen, heads of parastatals against breach of procurement rules

THE Federal Government has warned the chairmen of Governing boards and chief executives of parastatals against breach of procurement rules, saying this could earn anybody found wanting in this regard jail terms.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, gave this warning on Monday in Abuja at a one-day sensitization/consultative workshop for all the chairmen of boards and chief executives of parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Education.

He said that in line with the zero-tolerance to the corruption of the current administration, there was the need to properly brief the chairmen of boards who were recently inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu and their chief executives on the procurement rules as well as extant laws and regulations guiding the public service operations.

He said breach of procurement rules was the most severe of all because it carries jail terms as penalties to defaulters.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu, while declaring the workshop open, frowned at needless friction between the members of Governing boards and the management of the institutions or agencies.

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He said: “Achieving unity of purpose is the whole essence of this get-together, but sadly to admit, this is missing in many cases. Today, the boards and management of our institutions, agencies and parastatals are at daggers drawn.

“This has greatly hindered progress and this simply unacceptable. Matters must begin to change from today,” Adamu said.

The Minister whose speech was read by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, particularly noted that lack of role clarity has continued to create friction and “bad blood” between boards and management, and tension among members of some boards.

He said the workshop was designed to help them find their way through the labyrinth of their appointment as the presentations by resource persons would educate and enlighten the board chairmen on the processes and procedures, rules and regulations of the public service.