Budgetary procedure stalls USPF projects

The failure of the National Assembly to pass the 2010 budget of the Nigerian Communications Commission has stalled various projects initiated by the Universal Service Provision Fund in the current year.

Investigation by our correspondent showed that USPF was established by the telecoms regulatory agency under the NCC Act 2003 and receives 40 per cent of the operating levy paid into the coffers of the NCC by telecoms operators in the country to cater for the interest of underserved and un-served communities.

SUNDAY PUNCH had reported that three months after financial bids opening for projects to provide access to underserved communities, the Universal Service Provision Fund is yet to announce winners and award contracts for several projects.

Investigation at USPF revealed that the projects had been in the cooler, following the disagreement between NCC and the National Assembly over N6.4bn in the budget for the registration of SIM cards.

The lawmakers said the proposal was curious, contending that as a regulator, NCC did not need to dabble into the registration of SIM cards, as such exercise should be the responsibility of telecoms service providers.

The stalled projects include the supply and installation of computers and Internet in the Fund‘s School Access Programme and the installation and implementation of e-Library under the Connectivity for Development Programme.

Others are consultancy services for the Provision of ICT for Challenged Persons in Nigeria and the supply and installation of computers and Internet for the Tertiary Institution Programme.

At the opening of financial bids held in Abuja in August, companies that had been prequalified on technical basis had their financial bids opened.

The companies included some notable names in the Nigerian ICT industry including Zinox Technologies Limited, Galaxy Backbone, Technology Support Centre, Computer Warehouse Limited, Bites and Bytes and Linkserve.

However, since the bids were opened in August, USPF has not announced the winners of the projects, which are considered critical in addressing the challenges of access to modern information and communications technologies in some underserved communities.

It was also learnt that the consultant to the bid has finished the process of evaluation and handed over to the leadership of USPF, who has the responsibility to announce bid winners and proceed with the award of the contracts.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101121110679