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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Plateau State, has denied that its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Yakubu Dashe Gunya, awarded contracts worth N1.56 billion without Governing Council approval, saying no contracts of that magnitude had been awarded under his leadership.
The institute said it had operated without a Governing Council since the previous one was dissolved more than six years ago, with contract approvals routed through the Parastatals Tenders Board and Ministerial Tenders Board.
It was reacting to an October 30 report by Secrets Reporters entitled, “Federal College in Plateau Spent N1.56 Billion on Contracts Without Governing Council Approval.”
In a rejoinder made available to journalists on Monday, its Press and Protocol Officer, Wumbuet Charles, speaking on behalf of the executive director, described the report as false and a misrepresentation of the institute’s identity and approval processes.
Charles said NVRI was a research institution, not a federal college, and Gunya was its executive director and chief executive officer, not a provost.
He maintained that the allegation of bypassing the Governing Council was misplaced because the Federal Government had yet to constitute a replacement for the dissolved council.
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“Again, Dr. Gunya is only three Months in Office as the Executive Director/CEO. It is, therefore, practically impossible and logically incorrect to attribute contracts worth N1.56 billion to his nascent administration. No contracts of such magnitude have been awarded under his leadership,” the rejoinder stated.
Charles said any such contracts, if they existed, predated Gunya’s administration and would have been handled under the approving authorities in place at the time.
He said the executive director had focused on strengthening veterinary research, vaccine production, disease surveillance and manpower development, while ensuring prudent management of public resources and adherence to due process.
The institute said its financial records were subject to external audits and scrutiny by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, adding that it remained open to lawful oversight by the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies.
It demanded a retraction of the report and urged the publication to verify its information, while asking the public to disregard what it described as insinuations of financial impropriety.
NVRI also reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the delivery of its research mandate to its supervisory ministry, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria, stakeholders and its host community.
