The Office of Auditor General of the Federation, has queried the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on N7.3 billion contracts it awarded between 2012 and 2013.
The query was contained in the 2015 audited report the Auditor General of Federation (AGF), Anthony Ayine, submitted to the Senate Committee on Public Account (SPAC).
In the report sighted by the Blueprint last Friday, the Auditor General accused the then JAMB registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, of approving contracts of about N7.1 billion without due process and also deliberately sipliting contracts of about N247 million which was in breach of the extant circular of March 2009.
The report states, “Audit examination of procurement documents and other records of JAMB revealed that 21 payment vouchers for amounts totaling N7.1 billion were made in respect of contracts approved by JAMB registrar outside his authorized approval threshold of N2.5 million for supplies and N5 million for works .
“This is contrary to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) approved revised threshold for service wide application as conveyed in circular No. SGF/OP/1/S.3/VIII/57 of 11 March 2009.
“The registrar/Chief executive was requested to explain why he acted outside his authorized approval threshold and also to furnish evidence of ratification by the JAMB tender Board. Ministerial Tenders Board or Federal Executive Council.
“In response with reference number JAMB/FIN/127Vop.2/171 dated May 2016, the registrar stated that the awards were based on agreement entered into for a predetermined period preceding the time of the audit and certain jobs cannot be subjected to general contracting.
“This response did not address the query because it was observed and established that several contracts were split in 2012 and 2013 financial years in order to circumvent approval limits of the various authorities.
“The registrar had no authority to do so. A sample of 51 payment vouchers amounting to N247 million were in breach of the extant circular of March 2009 on splitting of contracts which is against financial regulations 3116 and 3117.
“The Registrar requested, in line with Financial Regulations 3116 to explain within 21 days of the date of my report , why he indulged in splitting of contracts.
“His response dated 14th May 2016, did not satisfactorily address the query.”
Consequently, the Senate committee on public accounts chaired by Senator Mathew Uroghide (PDP Edo South), has sent invitation to JAMB incumbent rRegistrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, and other top officials to appear before it this week for submission of relevant documents on the contracts and payments made.