The Rivers State Government has assured that due process would be followed in the award of contracts for the furnishing of five new model secondary schools built by the government.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Richard Ofuru, gave this assurance during the opening of tender for contractors in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

Mr Ofuru explained that the essence of the forum was to give everybody equal opportunity to bid as well see others bidding, adding that, “we in the Ministry of Education, we want to do our things orderly and transparently, that was the reason for inviting the bidders for everybody to see”.

The Permanent Secretary said there was need for bidders to be competent and be ready to executive the jobs at the lowest costs, even as he noted that more than 100 companies have tendered for the contract.

He said that even as the state government was determined to equip the newly – built Model Secondary Schools in the state, it would not tolerate low standard of work in furnishing of the schools.

“We cannot go below what we have started. We want the best.  The governor wants the best for Rivers people, the commissioner wants the best for Rivers children,” he said and told bidders that they would not encounter any challenge as all jobs have been budgeted for. He said that government was working in accordance  with the budgets.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Deputy Director and Project Manager, in the Ministry, Loveday Pepple, who advised bidders to be patient, assured that they would be given everything as due process requires.

Responding on behalf of the bidders, the Managing Director of R. I. Ihuanne & Sons Nigeria Limited, Mr Richard Igwe, spoke of the need to guard against a situation in which some contractors who did not bid are made to win the award.

He suggested that names of those to be selected after the analysis be published in the spirit of honesty and transparency.

Eunice Choko-Kayode