‘Your appointment is illegal’ — group asks BPP DG to resign within 30 days

A group known as the Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NAFGAD) has asked for the immediate resignation of Mamman Ahmadu, director-general, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), over the alleged illegality of his appointment.

The group made the demand in a letter dated May 2, 2023, according to a statement signed by Akingunola Omoniyi, head of office, NAFGAD.

According to the association, Ahmadu’s appointment did not follow due process and the law.

NAFGAD claimed that his appointment never had any record of approval from the national council as stipulated in section 7 (1) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Section 7 (1) of the act states that “there shall be for the bureau, a director-general who shall be appointed by the president, on the recommendation of the national council after competitive selection”.

The group, therefore, requested that the director-general resigns and refunds the salaries he has received since his appointment.

“Sequel to your appointment, sir, there exists, till date, no record of a national council that was set up to perform the role of recommendation to the president regarding your appointment as the director-general,” the letter reads.

“This is a fundamental breach and one whose relevance cannot be overemphasised and as a result, your appointment as director-general is void, illegal and contrary to the provisions of the above-stated act.

“On the strength of the relevant sections of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as highlighted, we humbly request and make the following demands herein stated in this correspondence:

“That, you vacate/resign from the position of director-general of the BPP. That, you cease, refrain, desist or restrain from parading or acting as the director-general of the BPP.

“That, the office of the director-general should be left vacant pending the setting up and constitution of a national council which shall recommend to the president for the appointment of a director-general.

“That the director-general refunds all salaries due to the office of the director-general paid to him from the period of 2016 till date into the government account.”

NAFGAD further threatened to take legal action against Ahmadu if he does not resign within 30 days.