From OZO RAY
The provision of basic infrastructure is said to be an integral part of life. This explains the reason government, organizations, and private individuals strive to ensure the availability of basic social amenities as well as the enabling atmosphere for proper and effective deployment of infrastructures to improve the living conditions of the citizenry. This is absolutely why the government through social contracts, welfare packages, and constitutional provisions ensensuresat cities are provided through interventions and project implementations to give the people a new lease of life. Basic social amenities such as good roads, bridges, potable water, electricity, quality housing, recreational facilities, tourist attractions, leisure, and hospitality are some of the determinants that help to make life worth living. Hence through the budget and economic planning government maps out projects and programs to meet the felt needs of the generality of the people especially the needs that will alleviate poverty and ameliorate their living conditions. It is said that the primary reason for the institution of government is to protect the lives and property of citizens as well as put the necessary infrastructures in place for the people to attain their potential. As a result, government, corporate organizations, private persons through taxpayers' money and philanthropy embark on road construction projects, housing projects, empowerment programs, job creations, skill acquisition programs, and a host of other life-changing interventions projects. Thus while the government through budget and appropriation map out constituency projects for execution across the country, organizations and private individuals through philanthropy and humanitarian services carry out projects and programs, especially intervention projects targeted at rural communities across Nigeria.
It is therefore in continuation of project implementation across the country that the Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State Nigeria recently opened a bid for zonal intervention projects to ensure that bidders don't cut corners if eventually selected as contractors to handle projects domiciled in the college. Our correspondent who was one of the observers at the bid opening ceremony at the college auditorium saw that all the bids were sealed and untampered with as the bid process was equally transparent and due process duly observed. Although the event which was a three-day exercise was a Zoom bid opening process due to the COVID-19 pandemic bidders from all over the country watched online and followed the bid process with avid attentiveness. The 2022 bid opening of the Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State was not the first in its series as several such events had been held in the past where credible contractors were selected on merit with adequate mobilizations to enable them to execute projects according to specifications and deliver in record time. Due to problems associated with project executions across the country where contractors either carry out shoddy jobs or abandon project sites till further notice after being adequately mobilized or under mobilized as the case may be, authorities of Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State have made it categorically clear that any contractor who negates the terms and conditions of the contractual obligations will have the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to contend with as the college has a reputation for decency, diligence, and orderliness.
The Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State which may be considered for a university amongst the three cooperative colleges in the country by the federal government in no distant time enjoys the goodwill and endorsement of the federal government because of its benchmarks and standards for supervision of top-notch projects that would eventually stand the test of time as well as meet the needs of the direct beneficiaries of the projects or programs. The institution, therefore, ensures adequate monitoring and supervision of projects beginning from when the projects were advertised in the national dailies to the bidding processes, selection of contracting companies, and eventual supervision of project executions to ensure contracting firms adhered strictly to terms and conditions of engagement which the Internal Auditor of the college Mr. Okeze Chukwudi Idowu said was the hallmark of what the Federal Cooperative College Oji River stands for. Mr.Okeze who is also a member of the Procurement Committee, and did the bid opening too said the essence of the bid opening was to ensure transparency. He said the bids were untampered with and they were opened via zoom for bidders to see that their bids were thoroughly sealed and not ruffled before they were eventually opened for all to see, adding that all the bidders would have been physically present at the college auditorium for the exercise but for the COVID-19 pandemic zoom was used and bidders followed the whole process online.
The Internal Auditor also disclosed that the bidding processes were done in three different categories. Mr. Okeze said the first which he mentioned as Lot C was for Consultancy Services involving training and capacity building. He said about 280 companies bidded in this category. He mentioned the second category as Lot G for goods where about 310 firms bid for the supply of educational materials and other goods. Then the third category according to him is Lot W which he referred to as Works where about 570 construction companies participated in the bid process. Mr. Okeze however pointed out that the projects being bidded for were projects approved by President Mohammadu Buhari in the 2022 budget year; some are in the main capital projects while some are in the zonal intervention projects. According to him, in the zonal intervention project category, any Senator or Reps member has a right to domicile projects in any federal institution of his choice but what is important is for the executors to pass through due process in executing the projects to ensure projects are well executed. Okeke believes that the Federal Cooperative College Oji River from hindsight has a history for ensuring that any project domiciled in the institution is executed 100% because the college has value for money. He said nepotism and mediocrity are two negative vices the college avoids in the selection of contractors to handle projects domiciled in the institution. He said, " We have a team of consultants within and outside the college that go from time to time as the projects are going on to ensure that the right thing is done and we have value for money because Federal Cooperative College Oji River is known for delivery, discipline and that is why they keep coming over and over again. "
The Internal Auditor noted that the Procurement Law helps to ascertain and guarantee the integrity of contractors as contractors must produce award letters and move to work with a minimum mobilization of 25% for goods and 30% for works and when they are mobilized, it is expected that we monitor and evaluate to ensure that execution is according to specifications and defaulters will face stiff sanctions as Federal Cooperative College Oji River only pays contractors when contracts are done and done very well. Also, Mr. Paul Chukwudi Eneh, the Registrar of the college and Chairman of the Procurement Committee, said that the essence of the bid process was to get capable companies that would be able to carry out the jobs as specified and by the laws of the land. Eneh, therefore, admonished those that were not selected not to be discouraged but endeavor to participate in other bidding processes of the institution. Some of the companies mentioned in the Lot C category were Lalong Integrated Services Limited a Lagos state-based company that bidding for Entrepreneurship Training for Women and Youths in Badagry-West, Agbado, and Okeodo, all Lagos communities. A few others were Tech Tap Consult Limited, another Lagos based company that bidding for Skill Development and Capacity Enhancement for Youths and Women in Agbado- Okeodo Badagry in Lagos State, Soibe Global Services Limited based in Abuja bidding for Youth and Women Technical Training in Ukwuano Umuahia federal constituency, SPR Financial Consultant Limited based in Abuja bidding for Vocational Training and Empowerment for Youths and Women in Egbeda and Akowonjo communities of Lagos state, to mention a few of the bidders at the bid opening of the Federal Cooperative College Oji River Enugu State Nigeria.
Mr. Okeze Chukwudi the FCC Internal Auditor announced the bids at the college auditorium during the bid opening.
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