Federal Ministry Of Finance Denies Awarding Contracts Worth N13Billion Without Due Process

By Daniel Dafe

The Federal Ministry of Finance has reacted to an online publication by Akelicious, insinuating that the Ministry under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya awarded some contracts to the tune of N13 Billion Naira between February and June 2024 without following due process.

The Ministry in a statement on Monday signed by Mohammed Manga FCAI, Director, Information and Public Relations, added “that at no time were such contracts awarded without due process,” saying that “these claims are not only unfounded but also malicious, aimed at not only tarnishing the reputation of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, but also to cause distractions to the ongoing initiatives embarked upon by the Ministry in revamping the nation’s economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.”

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According to the statement, “all contracts awarded from February to June 2024 including that of the Presidential Initiatives on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi CNG) and by extension other contracts till date were done in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and other relevant laws and regulations. Any insinuation of corruption or irregularities as claimed in the publication is baseless and without merit.”

“The Ministry is committed to transparency and accountability in its operations, as evident in the efficient management of the national economy. It also recognises the role of the media in ensuring transparency, accountability, and good governance and thus, urges the media to always cross check all information before going to the press as it will not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or organization that seeks to damage its reputation through false and malicious publications,” the statement said.

The statement urged the public to disregard this publication and be rest assured that the Ministry is working diligently to implement the President’s economic reforms and improve the lives of Nigerians.