Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has announced the cancellation of all procurement and tender processes initiated by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state for 2024.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, the decision was made in light of the absence of a 2024 Appropriation Law in the state.
The Administrator’s action follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024.
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As a result, Ibas directed all MDAs that had already initiated tender processes for projects to immediately refund the “tender fees” to the respective contractors until a spending plan is approved by the state.
The statement read, “In adherence to the Supreme Court judgement upholding the Appeal Court ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024, and in the absence of an Appropriation Law, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (RTD.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, wishes to notify the general public that all procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during this period are hereby cancelled.
“Accordingly, all MDAs that conducted such tender processes for projects in their respective offices are hereby directed to immediately refund the tender fees to the respective contractors, pending the approval of a spending plan by the state, which will be communicated in due course.”
