We followed due process in disposing obsolete, scrap metals

The Ondo state government has described as untrue that it did not follow due process in the purchase of obsolete and scrap metals in the State.

The commissioner for information and orientation, Donald Ojogo stated this on Monday while briefing newsmen in Akure.

He said “A proposal received by Mr Governor from a company Messrs’ Black Cann Limited requesting to purchase obsolete and scrap metals in the State, Mr Governor directed the State Commissioner for Finance (SCF) to handle the assignment as the commissioner handling the schedule,
The commissioner passed the assignment to appropriate department saddled with such responsibility.

In carrying out the assignment, the approved government procedure according to regulatory books was adopted. A board of survey comprising:
Ministry of Finance
Office of the Auditor General
Office of Account General was constituted to carry-out the assignment.

The major assignment:
Identification of items
Monitoring of the list as presented by the MDAs
Sorting of items – the Central Board of Survey ensured that Motor vehicles of any kind were not included except scraped and obsolete items.

The exercise covered the following MDAs
Ondo State Water Corporation
Ondo State Waste Management Board
Ministry of Agriculture
Ondo State Electricity Board
Ministry of Works
Ondo State Physical Planning and Urban development
Due Process Followed
External Auditor recommended that any item that has been in stock between 30-40yeras and can no longer be repaired should be disposed.

If the cost of repair is more than 75% of the purchase price it is therefore regarded as obsolete and should be disposed.
Agencies were directed to set up a Board of Survey to identify all the obsolete items as recommended.

After the submission of the list the State Government set up a Central Board of Survey to check and reconfirm the claim of the MDAs
Circular was issued requesting MDAs to forward the list of such obsolete and scrap metals in their Yard.

The board of survey examined the returns from the MDAs and removed all vehicles from the list. Predominantly this items concerned were pipe, joints Connectors and other metals kept in the warehouse of water Corporation that are no more in use.

Such materials acquired some forty years ago which are no longer permissible to be used in water reticulation, maintenance and management.

They only occupy space that defile aesthetics and constitute menace/hazard. It is therefore a wise thing for government to sell them to any buyer.
Fixing of Acceptable Prices
Adoption of International Bench Mark Price.

The pricing is based on tonnage – to determine the tonnage we secured the use of weighing Bridge from OSAMCO
Justification for Actions:
The materials in question were Pipes, Bend, casted tees that were not internally lined and externally coated bought between 1980 and 1982 during the construction of Egbe dam and Owena Ondo Road in 1965.

The pipes had corroded both internally and externally. Using it for water supply will amount to poisoning the good citizen of Ondo State because there will be dissolve metals into the Potable water pumped out for consumption.

The items has become junks constituting eyesore of wish the decision of government to dispose them has been in the best interest of the masses.