Tukur, Baraje, Shuni deny knowledge of multi-million railway contracts

Three former chairmen of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Thursday denied knowledge of all the multi-billion naira contracts awarded for the rehabilitation and modernisation of railways under President Goodluck Jonathan.

The former chairmen – Bamanga Tukur, Abubakar Baraje and Ladan Shuni, who appeared before the ad-hoc committee investigating Federal Ministry of Transport, NRC, and Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) on the award of contracts between 2010 and 2014, decried the high-handedness of the NRC managing director, Oluseye Sijuade.

Baraje, who resigned six months after his appointment, disclosed that the inactivity, non-functionality and being toothless bulldog, coupled with other political reasons prompted his decision to resign.

Baraje, who was a farmer national chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said the NRC managing director did not inform him (while serving as NRC chairman) of the ground-breaking ceremony of Abuja-Kaduna railway project, but was invited directly by Presidency.

In the separate testimonies, the former NRC chairmen unanimously disclosed that the Board was stripped of the power to award contracts, despite the provisions of the NRC Act that empowers the Board to award contracts to certain limit above the managing director.

But they noted that the Board was at various times notified of contracts awarded and foreign loans obtained for the railway projects as well as the money released from SURE-P through the office of the Vice President.

They alleged that the managing director deprived the Board members of travel allowances and were incapacitated to discharge their status order functions, adding that the appointment of consultants and contractors were shrouded in secrecy.

Baraje, who applauded the ongoing investigation, however, urged the ad-hoc committee to beam its searchlight on the officials of the ministry to get required facts.

To assist the ad-hoc committee in its findings, Baraje submitted copy of a report conducted by one of the standing committees on Eastern flank, which he described as “very revealing.”

Speaking earlier, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who decried the crisis trailing the funding of railway project, urged the ad-hoc committee to discharge its mandate with the urgency it deserved in view of billions of dollars of borrowed money sunk into the railways over these years without any commensurate result.

Dogara, who reiterated the resolve of the House to expose corruption in the process and all those who have misappropriated or misapplied railways funds or assets, observed that “this time around no such person(s) will have a President to run to for a cover or protection from appearing before you to answer questions regarding allegations of corruption against him.

“We must note, however, that this investigation is not a witch hunt of any person. Indeed, we have no scores to settle with anybody. The only scores we have to settle is against corruption, inefficiency or waste in administration of funds belonging to Nigerians. We are only performing our sacred constitutional duties.”

He also mandated the Johnson Agbonayinma-led committee to “ascertain if the contractors that won the contracts were qualified core players in the rail sub sector and further determine if the bid process conformed with laid down procedures and processes.”

While noting that railway provides greater employment for both skilled and unskilled labour in addition to massive economic activities that always thrive along railway corridor, the Speaker emphasised that resuscitation of railway would translate into rapid economic growth that would invariably rob off positively on our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The ad-hoc committee must go to work fully aware that it has the mandate of the House and indeed Nigerians who hold in their hands broken faith and promises of an efficient and effective railways to determine whether the process of bidding for the contracts adhered to the stipulations of our laws, especially as contained in the Public Procurement Act (2007).

“It is hoped that this investigative hearing would provide the needed opportunity for parliament to gather useful information from stakeholders and the concerned public which, ultimately, will lead to good legislation, enhanced policy content and good governance devoid of corruption and waste.

“The quality of this inquiry and the Ad-Hoc Committee’s recommendations is expected to aid the National Assembly in plugging loopholes in existing laws or in enacting better laws.”

He also tasked the committee to ensure that the billions of dollars spent on the contracts for rehabilitation and maintenance of rail tracks, construction of standard gauges, bridges, procurement of locomotive wagons and coaches from 2010-2014, answers to the value for money expectations of Nigerians.