Ebonyi State Government has described as baseless and misleading media report credited to an online platform alleging irregularities in the award of N4.1 billion projects by the state government.
In a statement signed by the commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr. Jude Okpor he said the report was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the good image of the state government.
“The report as published by an online platform alleged that the projects were awarded to 24 sole bidders without a competitive process. Let me make it clear that the report is misleading and lacks merit.”
He noted that the procurement process followed the provisions of the Ebonyi State Public Procurement Law (2020) and adhered to global best practices.
Mr. Okpor said that the procurement process for the projects was conducted through an open tender advertised on the state’s e-procurement platform for 30 days.
“Under this process, any qualified company could participate, and the state did not restrict or select bidders.
“If only one company submits a bid and meets the criteria, the contract can be awarded without re-advertisement, in line with Section 35 (2a) of the Ebonyi State Public Procurement Law.
“On the issue of transparency and accountability, the present administration have received commendations from reputable organizations such as the World Bank, USAID-State2State, and the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) program for its adherence to transparency and accountability.”
The State Government condemned the online platform’s activities, adding that its pattern remains sensationalism and unverified reporting. It urged the media organization to embrace developmental journalism and avoid creating unnecessary controversies.
Okpor reassured the public that the government remains committed to conducting its affairs transparently, in line with the principles outlined in the “People’s Charter of Needs.
He affirmed that no amount of negative publicity would distract the administration from its goals, saying the present administration will continue to uphold the highest standards in governance and procurement processes.
“Citizens and stakeholders of Ebonyi State are advised to disregard the misleading reports from the mischief makers and focus on the state’s developmental strides.”
