The House of Representatives Committee on Disability has launched an investigation into the procurement activities and project implementation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities following allegations of financial mismanagement raised by members of the disability community.
The decision was announced on Thursday during an investigative hearing held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Committee Chairman and Lagos lawmaker, Bashiru Dawodu, said the probe was initiated to address concerns surrounding contract awards, project execution, and administrative operations within the commission.
During the session, several stakeholders alleged that some procurement processes and projects carried out by the commission may have been inflated, raising questions about the accountability of funds meant to support persons with disabilities.
One of the petitioners, Abdullahi Ibrahim, told lawmakers that many members of the disability community were worried about what they described as questionable financial practices within the agency.
He alleged that the commission approved contracts for projects and equipment at costs significantly higher than their market value.
According to Ibrahim, the situation was troubling and risked turning the commission into a hub of corruption within the disability community.
He cited a procurement involving Point-of-Sale (PoS) machines as an example, claiming the contract value was exaggerated.
He questioned how the commission could allegedly spend about ₦97 million on 101 PoS machines with starter packs when their actual cost was far lower.
Ibrahim also alleged that some training programmes and equipment procurements undertaken by the commission were awarded at highly inflated prices.
Members of the committee acknowledged the seriousness of the claims but emphasised that the allegations must be backed with documentary evidence.
They urged stakeholders who submitted petitions to provide relevant documents to enable the panel conduct a thorough and objective investigation.
Responding to the allegations, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Ayuba Gufwan, said steps had already been taken to address procurement irregularities discovered shortly after he assumed office.
Gufwan explained that although President Bola Tinubu appointed him on August 6, 2024, he could not immediately assume duties due to injuries from an accident that required hospitalisation. He said he eventually resumed about two weeks later.
According to him, upon resuming work, he discovered that some contracts had been awarded during the transition period by his predecessor, which he described as irregular.
He told the committee that the commission’s Procurement Tenders Board later reviewed those contracts and declared them illegal.
Gufwan explained that the board ruled that all procurement decisions taken by the former Executive Secretary after the official handover date were null and void, leading to the cancellation of those contracts and the commencement of a fresh procurement process for 2024.
He assured lawmakers that all relevant documentation regarding the procurement activities would be formally submitted to the committee.
Beyond the procurement concerns, Gufwan also highlighted efforts by the current management to expand the commission’s presence nationwide.
He said that when he assumed office, the commission had no operational zonal offices despite provisions in its enabling law requiring nationwide coverage.
According to him, regional offices have now been established in Plateau, Bauchi, Abia, and Oyo states to serve the North-Central, North-East, South-East, and South-West zones, while plans are underway to open offices in the remaining regions.
Gufwan added that the aim is to decentralise the commission’s operations and make its services more accessible to persons with disabilities across the country.
He also pointed to inadequate funding as a major challenge affecting the commission’s ability to carry out its responsibilities.
He noted that many persons with disabilities travel from different parts of the country to seek assistance, but the commission often lacks the resources to provide support such as accommodation or transport.
Members of the committee said the investigation would continue, adding that further engagement sessions may be scheduled to allow more stakeholders present their submissions before any legislative action is taken.
