By Francis Tim Mbom
The SDO of Fako Division, Southwest Region, Jules Marcellin Ndjaga, has said contracts are not for politicians.
Ndjaga insisted that the politician's role is to ensure proper execution of contracts within their various constituencies and not otherwise. The Fako Chief Executive, who doubles as head of Fako Tenders Board, made the statement in Limbe Tuesday, February 3, during the launching of Fako Divisional Projects for 2009.
"Most politicians and some well placed persons in our society so suddenly transform themselves to become economic operators and are seen moving from office to office to lobby for contracts…" the SDO said.
He warned political contractors: "It will be a worthless adventure for such persons to border themselves coming to me. The role of politicians is at the 'Follow Up Committee,'" he said. "If you become contractors, who then will ensure that these contracts are well executed?" he questioned.
Buea Mayor Reacts
The SDO's emphatic stance pricked the Mayor of Buea, Charles Mbella Moki, who said the SDO should be careful in sealing his contracts door from politicians. He cautioned the SDO not to award contracts to those who will later on "use the fallouts against the very Government that is financing the contracts."
Mbella Moki told the SDO that he was worried because some of them (politicians) have sweated so much to fashion out Fako Division to what it is today.But the SDO said his reference was directed at the immoral politicians whom he said usually take contracts and end up not delivering.
"I am talking about those politicians who take contracts and don't execute," he argued.
Meantime, the SDO promised to put a special eye on economic operators who would want to corrupt officials of the Tenders Board in a bid to get contracts or get their contracts paid for when they have not done the job in respect to the quality demanded.
From the analysis provided by the Fako Finance Controller, Thomas Ngonja Kulu, there will be an increase in the number of contracts this year that is from 108 to 136. He disclosed that FCFA 3.668 billion has been budgeted for contracts in Fako alone, out of the six divisions of the Southwest Region. Of this, he said, FCFA 750 million will be allocated to some six contracts that will be handled at the level of Yaounde.
According to him, 85 of the contracts will be controlled from the Southwest Regional office while those to be controlled at the level of the Fako Tenders Board amounts to 136 and are going to cost some FCFA 1.06 billion.
The meeting had other presenters like the Divisional Delegate for the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Martha Nkwanyo.
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