Audit observed that a contractor was awarded a contract for the sum of N48,300,000.00 vide letter of award no.PRO/SAP&CAP/EXND/2016/026/C.022 dated 15th June 2016 for the empowerment/business set up for 20 delegates in Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo states.
The sum of N14,490,000.00 was paid to the contractor being 30% of the contract value vide payment voucher No: OSAPND/OC- C/924/2016 dated 31st December 2016. Further examination of the supporting documents attached to the payment voucher revealed that the business of the contractor which was Energy, oil and Gas did not align with the contract activities described in the contract award letter, and this is in contravention of the abovementioned Section of the Procurement Act 2007. This also cast doubt on the contract award procedure adopted by the Tenders’ Board.
Audit also observed that another contractor was paid via payment voucher No: OSAPND/OC- C/106/2016 dated 30th December 2016 and it was discovered that 50% mobilization fee of N45,990,000.00 was paid for provision of Empowerment/Business set up for thirty (30) Niger Delta Youths in fish/poultry farming as against 15%. This contravened the abovementioned provisions. In the same vein another a payment vouchers No: OSAPND/OC-C/279/2016 for the sum of N174,783,000.00 dated 6th march 2016 being 50% mobilisation fee was paid for Agricultural business empowerment, business set up mentorship and marketing for a batch of 100 PAP delegates in Delta State and this contravened the above-mentioned Section of the Public Procurement Act.