Abdu made the revelation at the 2nd National Conference on Public Procurement (NACOPP) with the theme ”Sustaining the Anti-Corruption Campaign Through Best Procurement Practices.”
Engineer Ahmed Adu speaking to journalists at the event According to him, the conference is aimed at among other things, formulating new strategies for compliance with due process in public expenditure, and curtail tendencies to circumvent the process.
He stated that the driving force behind the conference is the belief by the bureau that the nation’s procurement reform has made a huge impact on the economy. He also noted that the conference will be used to introduce state government representatives to the objectives and benefits of public procurement reform and provide a national platform for policy makers to interact and share experiences on public procurement procedures and processes.
”We see NACOPP as a veritable forum to achieve synergy with state governments on procurement issues. This is because, despite the different levels of government in the federation, there is only one Nigerian economy,”
he said.
Abdu told participants at the conference that the public procurement legal framework, exemplified by the Public Procurement Act 2007, is patterned after the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) model law on public procurement. He said:
”As a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Nigeria’s fight against corruption is expected to shift from corrective to preventive measures. This will involve ensuring strict compliance with extant regulations and guidelines on public procurement.”
He continued: ‘To increase awareness among critical stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in the implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the bureau organizes annual retreats for permanent secretaries; as well as interactive sessions with the legislature; forums with contractors, civil society, professional groups, and others.”
The DG reiterated that Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), adding that the country’s fight against corruption is expected to shift from corrective to preventive measures.
”This will involve ensuring strict compliance with extant regulations and guidelines on public procurement,” he concluded.
Source: Naij
Add Comment