By our reporter

A group that goes by the name, Nasarawa Rights Protection and Promotion (NRPP) has called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to constitute an investigative committee to look into a contract awarded for the renovation of the former deputy governor’s lodge now housing Nasarawa Procurement Agency.

According to a statement issued in Lafia and signed by the Secretary of the group Mr. Ayuba Mabo, though the renovation work was carried out through direct labour, the process and the execution of the work was marred by irregularities perpetuated with active connivance of some powerful persons in the agency.

“Information available to us shows that many items included and in which money was earmarked for in the contract were not provided” the group alleged.

The group explained that there was an approval for the purchase of many items aimed at providing a favourable work environment for staff of the agency but these were not supplied at completion of the work.

“If an agency that Governor Sule has so much trust and confidence in like the procurement agency is found enmeshed in scandal of this magnitude then one is safe to assume that corruption is pervasive under this government”, The group added.

The statement which noted the recent directives to all commissioners and heads of extra- ministerial departments by the governor to henceforth forward all expenditure requests to the Procurement Agency for vetting and approval, observed that if such an agency could involved itself in shoddy deals then, the whole essence of creating the agency has been defeated because “no one is sure of how transparent the agency will be in carrying out its statutory functions”.

While appealing to Governor Sule to tighten the nuts to curb the sleaze in his government which many believe is increasing, the group urged him not treat their call for investigation of renovation of the agency’s office with levity.