Delta govt house perm sec ‘did not approve illegal projects’

The Competent Governance For Accountability And Civic Trust (CGACT) has refuted claims that Edwin Gbegbaje, permanent secretary and directorate of protocol at the Delta state government house, approved illegal projects in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Godwin Erheriene, convener of the group, said it found out that projects alleged to have been awarded by Gbegbaje were approved by the relevant government ministries and agencies.

He was reacting to reports in which the permanent secretary was said to be performing the functions of some government agencies regarding the award and approval of contracts.

He described as “totally misleading and geared towards defaming the officer”, adding that they were the handwork of “disgruntled officials within the government house”.

“We all know the procedures awarding government contract at all levels of government, be it, local, state or federal,” he said.

“All contracts have to go through government bureaucracy and verified from one office to another for proper government scrutiny, and accountability.

“It’s apparent that there are some disgruntled officials within the government house who are working against the interest of the state. However, as is with the protocols in government, the permanent secretaries in MDAs are the accounting officers required to sign cheques and disburse funds for same.

“The government house permanent secretary does not have the prerequisite for approving projects neither does his office draw up a bill of quantities (BOQs)/bill of engineering measurement and evaluation (BEME) required from respective MDAs.”

Erheriene said the Okowa administration has made it mandatory for either the certificate of completion of works for projects carried out to be issued by the affected MDA or the audit certificate to be given by the office of the auditor-general of the state.

“This being the case, how then can the office of the permanent secretary and directorate of protocol single-handedly carry out all these activities being arrogated to him?” he said.

“We would, therefore, advise that information should be double-checked because history holds the record of everyone.”