Reps recommend suspension of Acting PRODA DG

The House of Representatives has recommended the sacking of the acting Director-General of the Project Development Institute, Enugu, Fabian Okonkwo.

This followed the adoption of the report of the investigation by the House Committee on Public Procurement on alleged Procurement Deception, Staff Victimization and the Ongoing Management problem in PRODA, an institute under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology.

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Presenting the report yesterday, the committee’s chairman, Nasiru Ali Ahmed, said as part of its recommendation, the committee had nullified all contracts awarded by the acting Director-General and recommended that all monies paid to companies awarded contracts illegally be recovered by relevant government anti-graft agencies immediately.

He said the committee also recommend freezing of accounts of those companies paid illegally.

“That the Acting Director-General Engr. Fabian Okonkwo should be suspended with immediate effect and handed over to the relevant government anti-graft Agencies for investigation in line with the provisions of Sections 53 and 58 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.”

The report also directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation/Presidency to sanction the governing board of PRODA for interfering in the executive functions of the PRODA Enugu Management.