Inadequate Capacity Responsible For Poor Procurement Implementation – Mohammed Attah

The National Coordinator of Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, PRADIN, Mr. Mohammed Bougei Attah has identified capacity gap in the application of procurement management system in Nigeria as a major factor responsible for the poor procurement performances in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the federal government.

 

Speaking yesterday in Benin, Edo State, as consultant to the African Network for Economic and Environmental Justice, ANNEJ, at a two-day workshop for civil society organisations, CSOs and journalist from the state on Procurement Monitoring, Observation and Reporting, Attah informed the participants that the high level of procurement frauds, which accounts for about 70 per cent of total corruption cases in the sector is traceable to use of non-qualified personnel to administer procurement processes.

 

A participant at the workshop, Mr. Victor Victor Emejuiwe of Centre for Social and Economic Justice, CENSOJ, Abuja collaborated the above statement bysaying that the Public Procurement Act 2007 and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management Act 2007 are legislations enacted to help in providing solutions to the capacity gaps in the administration of procurement practices.

 

He noted that the two bodies established by these laws – Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, CIPSMN are expected to work together in ensuring transparency and accountability in the public sector.

 

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Henry Idogun commended the organisers of the workshop for sustaining the advocacy through regular interface with the government from the Niger Delta states and the CSOs.

 

He said a good example of the capacity gaps as it affected Edo state in the past is the composition of the Governing Council which was faulty at the inception in 2012 but has been normalized.

Mr. Idogun further said that CSOs have played very vital role in the current changes and development of the system.

 

He submitted that the sustenance of the building the capacity of CSOs in the state will help to improve transparency and better service delivery, value for money through open contracting.

 

In his welcome address at the workshop, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor noted that one of the workshop objectives is to support CSOs/Media advocacy for the implementation of Open Government Partnership commitments in Edo State, as part of efforts to improve oversight, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources by targeting corruption prevention measures.