CSOs Flay Media Attack On TETFUND Boss

A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) under the aegis of CSOs for Transparency, Accountability, and Good Governance has risen against allegations of fraud and contract racketeering against the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Sonny Echono.

Addressing a world press conference in Abuja , convener of the group, Adams Abonu expressed reservations about recent reports from a section of the media that said the TETFUND boss awarded contracts for non-existing projects to the tune of 7.6 billion naira.

“Our coalition observed with a sense of relief that the ES of TETFUND, Architect Echono, has brought his wealth of experience in sound procurement procedures to bear in his incumbent role, and this has come with attendant benefits in sound tertiary instruction in Nigeria.

“At a time when the world is advancing towards information technology and researches that meet emerging development challenges.

“it’s heartwarming to note the sense of purpose and dedication of the current administration at TETFUND focused in this direction, and in the process drawing templates that are being modeled by other countries.

“Some of these procedures include but are not limited to sound procurement processes, reducing and eliminating wastage of funds and capital drains, involving key stakeholders and beneficiaries of targeted funds in project execution, and ensuring monitoring of disbursed funds to ensure that targeted objectives are achieved.

“While an era of transparency is being nurtured in TETFUND, it is disheartening to observe a disgruntled section of the public orchestrating a campaign of calumny against the leadership of the Agency.

“This coalition condemns in the strongest terms these acts of mischief that could impede on the needed dedication and zeal of the leadership of the Agency.

Recently, some online media published a report that TETFUND awarded contracts worth N7.6bn within two months and paid a sum of N2.9bn to contractors for unexecuted jobs.