Procurement Acts: BPP In NIPOST Certification Scandal

By Bukar Bolori

The staff of Nigerian Postal Services (NIPOST) has faulted the role of Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP in awarding a certificate to a staff of the organisation, which according to them did not have a background in procurement.

The latest allegation which they claimed was in contravention with the procurement act, which presupposes that anyone saddled with the role in public organisation must attend a course relating to procurement or obtain a certificate to that effect, followed earlier allegation of corruption and nepotism against Dr. Adebayo Adewusi led management.

“They (Management) have flouted the procurement acts by awarding procurement certification to staff without procurement background in the 2021 procurement conversion examination.” A source in the organisation told journalists.

Also the staff in a petition written to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation insists that, the staff, a 54 year old Mr. Samuel Oluwasegun Sangotayo, which was on the BPP list number 118 with Examination number BPP/PCC/NOV/2021/142 was co-opted into the procurement department of NIPOST with fraudulent intention as he has no background in procurement before the NIPOST Management move against the procurement acts and rules of the civil service to appoint him as Director of Procurement.

The petition in part reads: “From all indications NIPOST has co-opted the BPP into its fold of agencies that abuse and flagrantly disregard extant rules, guidelines/procedures. This is manifested in the impunity by NIPOST management in planting a 54 years old substantive Deputy Director( Legal) on GL 16, by name Mr. Samuel Oluwasegun Sagontayo, in the procurement department, and allowing him to attend Procurement conversation course in 2021.

“This is against the procurement act. To Staff amazement the BPP went ahead to issue Certificate to this unworthy candidate despite petition. Mr. Samuel Oluwassegun is number 118 on the BPP Certification lists. This is contrary to a circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated 14th June, 2017 with reference No. 59780/S.1/1.1/117 which states that Officers from other cadres in civil service are prohibited from procurement functions where career procurement Officers are available.

“Specifically, the BPP mandatory conversation training guidelines for 2021 as obtained from its website clearly indicated that; 2(b) Current cadre and grade level (Nominees should not be above GL 15 or equivalent). Why was Mr. S. O. Sagontayo, who has been on GL.16 since January 2018, allowed to take part in the November 2021 conversion exercise? Has the rules changed? 3(e) Nominees who are more than 50years of age or have less than 5years in service are not qualified to apply. Here the rule was violated because Mr. S.O Sagontayo is 54 year of age.”

According to staff of NIPOST the organization has moved from bad to worse since the coming on board of Dr. Ismail Adewusi, who took over the administration of NIPOST in December 2019.

“Under him (Dr. Ismail Adewusi) management have been operating with total disregard to the laid down rules and procedures obtainable in civil service. The provision of a circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, dated 14th June, 2017 with reference No. 59780/S.1/1.1/117 states that Officers from other cadres in civil service are prohibited from procurement functions where career procurement Officers are available.

“On the contrary, a case in hand is the drafting of a non-career officer, a deputy director from the legal department to succeed the retired Director, while there are two (2) senior certified procurement officers with total disregard to the above cited circular.” The source said

Attempt to speak to the Director Corporate Communication; Mr. Frank Alao did not yield result as his phone is not reachable.