Following a story in an online platform credited to one Mr. Christopher Etuemi Wuruyai, that the executives of EGCDF awarded contracts worth billions of naira for themselves and children, the Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, has debunked the story, saying the awarded contracts followed due process in line with its guidelines.
In a statement signed on behalf EGCDF by Chief Reuben Tonjoh, PRO, EGCDF to correct the statement made by the Egbema/Gbaramatu Concern Citizens, stated that the contracts were not up to a billion naira as claimed by the group but N643, 608,485.22 million
The statement reads: “we are highly perturbed by the ugly trend of comments making the rounds in Gbaramatu voice platform regards our recent contract awards. However, we are confident and pleased that we did followed the laid down standard practices and procedures of awarding contracts in EGCDF”.
According to the statement, at the beginning, EGCDF called for selection of projects by the various communities which were scoped and designed. In addition, some were existing projects that required extension or second phase.
“Thereafter, we called for nomination of five contractors for each project by the constituent communities. The nominated contractors were made to bid among themselves. The tenders were analysed based on certain standard criteria by our Project and programmes Review Committee.
“It is a committee made up of representatives from reputable organisation and upon their analysis winners emerged for each of the projects. Based on the approval by the board we announced the result and published it on our notice board for a reasonable time.
“This was followed by issuance of award letters and acceptance by the various contractors. Consequently, the contract signing ceremony, we followed through all the necessary standard procedures”, he said.
EGCDF pointed out in the statement that it will be unfair for them to deny someone who worked closely with his community to secure job opportunity. “We have a rule that prohibit only the core leadership at board level from contract process in order to avoid conflict of interest.
“Any established case of fraudulent practice, hand twisting of fellow community folks or short changing others can be singled out and treated as such without biased. Let us handle issues with caution. It is quiet disheartening and demotivational to read those slanderous and despicable comments. I owe the good people of Egbema and Gbaramatu the core values of integrity, transparency and accountability”, he added.
