Mokokchung, 30 August (MTNews): The Nagaland Contractors’ & Supply Union (NCSU) has warned the Nagaland government that it will pursue legal action if higher authorities continue to ignore the violation of memorandums signed over the years.
In the past, memorandums have been issued stating that contracts and supply work will only be awarded to Contractors and Suppliers who are registered members. However, the NCSU claims that many government officials and politicians knowingly ignore the government’s standing rules and illegally award contracts to “selfish Contractors” through Table Tender or backdoor means (without following the NIT) in order to benefit themselves.
The NCSU, through a press release on 30 August, drew attention to a memorandum issued in 1985 by the Chief Secretary to the Government of Nagaland. This memorandum exposed the involvement of government employees in executing contract and supply works under various state government departments. The NCSU asserted that these works were often carried out using officers’ relatives’ names or fictitious identities.
In response to this issue, the NCSU reminded that the State Government had circulated a memorandum to all Heads of Departments and Administrative Departments in 1986. This memorandum specified that contract and supply works within Nagaland should exclusively be awarded to Registered Contractors and Suppliers holding Identity Cards of the Nagaland Contractors & Suppliers Union, Nagaland, Kohima. Additionally, the Financial Commissioner to the State Government of Nagaland issued a memorandum in 1995, emphasizing that all government contract and supply works in the state should strictly adhere to the rules outlined in the 1985 memorandum. Despite these directives, the NCSU noted that the state government has not put the Contractors & Suppliers rule, based on “Contract & supply works are awarded to the Contractors & Suppliers through Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) on open Tenders only,” into practice.
The NCSU expressed concern that despite these directives, certain government officials and politicians were “knowingly ignoring the government’s standing rules” and illegally awarding contracts to “selfish contractors” through Table Tender or backdoor means (without following the NIT).
“Truly speaking, we, the NCSU, have submitted several representations to the State Government, urging them not to allow such illegal practices and to take stern action against the corrupt Officials & Politicians. However, no action has been taken against the defaulters,” the NCSU added, stating that they cannot remain as “mute spectators” any longer.
Therefore, in their statement, the NCSU once again urged the relevant authorities to fully enforce the State Government’s directives and exclusively allocate contract and supply works to duly registered members of the Contractors & Suppliers Union. The NCSU cautioned that any government officials or politicians deviating from these guidelines will assume personal risks.