(Picture L-R) Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Lands and Housing,Representative of the State Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Wali and representative of the Director General, Bureau of Public procurement, Engr. Ishaq Yahaya at the North West edition of the Fifth Phase National Sensitization Workshop on the implementation of the Public Procurement Act 2007 for Stakeholders in the Zone
The North West edition of the Fifth Phase National Sensitization Programme on the Public Procurement Act 2007 organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) was held on Thursday 9th August, 2012 at Giginya Coral Hotel, Sokoto for stakeholders .Among those in attendance were contractors, public servants, consultants, politicians, civil society organisations, professional bodies and the general public from the Zone (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States). The main objective of the programme which was declared open by His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto), the Executive Governor of Sokoto State (represented by the Head of Service, Sokoto State, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali), was to educate and enlighten stakeholders on the provisions of the Act with a view to enabling them take maximum advantage of the law to compete effectively in national procurement exercises.
(Picture L-R) Representative of the Sokoto State Governor, Alh. Abdullahi Wali, representative of the Director General, Bureau of Public procurement, Engr. Ishaq Yahaya and the Sokoto State Commander of NDLEA, Alh. Muhammad M. Idris at the North West edition of the Fifth Phase National Sensitization Workshop
The programme, which was attended by over 300 participants (including, among others, the Attorney-General/Hon. Commissioner of Justice, Sokoto State, Permanent Secretaries, several representatives of MDAs and representatives of the business sector, professional organisations, Non-State Actors, the Political class, etc, involved speeches, paper presentations, general contributions and questions and answer sessions.
Papers were presented by:Dr. Lanre Adebayo (Executive Director, Centre for Applied Policy and Social Advocacy, Abuja) on “Public Procurement Processes and Strategic Engagement in the current dispensation”; Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofo (Principal Consultant, Ibiam Oguejiofo & Associates, Kaduna) on “Understanding Public Procurement Initiation, Planning and Implementation” and Mohammed Bougei Attah (National Coordinator, Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, Abuja) on “Open Competitive Bidding and Special or Restricted Methods of Procurement under the Public Procurement Act 2007”.
A Press release signed by Engr. Emeka Ezeh,director -general of BPP said after extensive discussion of the papers/speeches and contributions from participants on the general principles of the subject matter, participants identified Non-constitution of the National Council on Public Procurement as provided by the Act; Widespread corruption at various levels of governance which affects value for money; Lack of adequate awareness among key stakeholders and the general public; and Un-acceptable level of implementation of and compliance with the provisions of the Act as the most fundamental problems facing national public procurement process:
In view of the aforementioned problems, participants therefore agreed that the following resolutions, among others, be adopted for appropriate action by concerned stakeholders as a way of facilitating the smooth realisation of the lofty objectives of the Act: that the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) should put pressure on the Executive to constitute and inaugurate the National Council of Public Procurement as enshrined in the Act as a means of legalizing and strengthening its operation;that the BPP should endeavour to make the National Sensitisation Program continuous and more comprehensive in subsequent edition;and that the BPP should as a matter of policy and utmost necessity engage state governments in discussions on the necessity of using the Act as a model for the enactment of legislations to regulate their procurement processes for the purpose of transparency, competitiveness, fairness, professionalism and frugal application of public funds.
Stakeholders also said that reputable and germane Non-State Actors (NGOs, Pressure Groups, Professional Associations) be identified and engaged to observe, monitor and report on compliance with the provisions of the Act in every stage of all national procurement processes and exercises;that the BPP should maintain a strong partnership and collaborative relationship with all anti-corruption as well as law enforcement agencies with a view to ensuring that violators of the provisions of the Act are appropriately brought to book in accordance with the law of the land.
It was equally suggested that stakeholders should show more commitment and eschew nepotism as an effective way of stemming corruption. And that the BPP should design a training programme to enhance institutional capacity in both its in-house personnel as well as in the crop of its active partners and collaborators (Non-State Actors, Professional Bodies, Anti-Corruption Agencies, Consultants).
The workshop was concluded with a unanimous commendation of the BPP by participants for this giant stride and a call for the sustainability of the noble objectives of the programme.
Read the Communique at the end of the event below:
THE 5TH PHASE NATIONAL SENSITISATION PROGRAMME ON THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT 2007 ORGANISED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (BPP), THE PRESIDENCY, ABUJA FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE NORTH-WEST ZONE HELD ON 9TH AUGUST, 2012 AT GIGINYA HOTEL, SOKOTO-NIGERIA
C O M M U N I Q U E
PREAMBLE
The North West edition of the Fifth Phase National Sensitization Programme on the Public Procurement Act 2007 organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) was held today Thursday 9th August, 2012 at Giginya Coral Hotel, Sokoto for stakeholders which included contractors, public servants, consultants, politicians, civil society organisations, professional bodies and the general public from the Zone (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States). The main objective of the programme which was declared open by His Excellency, Alhaji (Dr) Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yamman Sokoto), the Executive Governor of Sokoto State (represented by the Head of Service, Sokoto State, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali), was to educate and enlighten stakeholders on the provisions of the Act with a view to enabling them take maximum advantage of the law to compete effectively in national procurement exercises.
The programme, which was attended by over 300 participants (including, among others, the Attorney-General/Hon. Commissioner of Justice, Sokoto State, Permanent Secretaries, several representatives of MDAs and representatives of the business sector, professional organisations, Non-State Actors, the Political class, etc, involved speeches, paper presentations, general contributions and questions and answer sessions.
Papers were presented by:
(1) Dr. Lanre Adebayo (Executive Director, Centre for Applied Policy and Social Advocacy, Abuja) on “Public Procurement Processes and Strategic Engagement in the current dispensation”.
(2) Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofo (Principal Consultant, Ibiam Oguejiofo & Associates, Kaduna) on “Understanding Public Procurement Initiation, Planning and Implementation” and
(3) Mohammed Bougei Attah (National Coordinator, Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, Abuja) on “Open Competitive Bidding and Special or Restricted Methods of Procurement under the Public Procurement Act 2007”.
Speeches were also made by:
(1) Engr. Emeka Ezeh, FNE (Director-General of the BPP).
(2) His Excellency Alhaji (Dr) Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sarkin Yaman Sokoto), Executive Governor of Sokoto State.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
After exhaustive dissection cum discussion of the papers/speeches and contributions from participants on the general principles of the subject matter, participants identified the following as problems facing national public procurement process:
1. Non-constitution of the National Council on Public Procurement as provided by the Act.
2. Widespread corruption at various levels of governance which affects value for money.
3. Lack of adequate awareness among key stakeholders and the general public.
4. Un-acceptable level of implementation of and compliance with the provisions of the Act.
5. Over-concentration of contractors/service providers’ attention on MDAs located in the Federal Capital Territory for patronage.
RESOLUTIONS
In view of the aforementioned problems, participants therefore agreed that the following resolutions be adopted for appropriate action by concerned stakeholders as a way of facilitating the smooth realisation of the lofty objectives of the Act:
1. That the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) should put pressure on the Executive to constitute and inaugurate the National Council of Public Procurement as enshrined in the Act as a means of legalizing and strengthening its operation.
2. That the BPP should endeavour to make the National Sensitisation Program continuous and more comprehensive.
3. That more efforts should be applied in ensuring that all stakeholders most especially stakeholders from the public service attend and participate actively in the programme.
4. That the BPP should as a matter of policy and utmost necessity engage state governments in discussions on the necessity of using the Act as a model for the enactment of legislations to regulate their procurement processes for the purpose of transparency, competitiveness, fairness, professionalism and frugal application of public funds.
5. That the BPP should expand the scope of its partnership with civil society organisations, relevant pressure groups and professional associations with a view to making them a veritable and effective organ of education, enlightenment and sensitisation.
6. That reputable and germane Non-State Actors (NGOs, Pressure Groups, and Professional Associations) be identified and engaged to observe, monitor and report on compliance with the provisions of the Act in every stage of all national procurement processes and exercises.
7. That contractors/consultants and other service providers be encouraged, through a pragmatic, well-designed and sustainable public enlightenment campaign, to seek patronage from government parastatals and agencies located in their localities rather than concentrating mainly on MDAs in the Federal Capital Territory as a way of decentralising national procurement and ensuring greater spread of patronage.
8. That the BPP should maintain a strong partnership and collaborative relationship with all anti-corruption as well as law enforcement agencies with a view to ensuring that violators of the provisions of the Act are appropriately brought to book in accordance with the law of the land.
9. That stakeholders should show more commitment and eschew nepotism as an effective way of stemming corruption.
10. That the BPP should design a training programme to enhance institutional capacity in both its in house personnel as well as in the crop of its active partners and collaborators (Non-State Actors, Professional Bodies, Anti-Corruption Agencies, Consultants).
CONCLUSION
Participants commended the BPP for this giant stride and solicited the sustainability of the noble objectives of the programme.
9th August, 2012 Sokoto-Nigeria
S I G N E D
1. Salisu Mohammed, USAID/RTI/LEAD Project Director, Sokoto
2. Engr. Mohammed Lawal, Kaduna State Chairman, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply
Management of Nigeria
3. Kabiru Hamisu Kura, Executive Director, Community Development Initiative, Kano
4. Sis Cecilia Eseme, Execuitve Director, Peoples’ Peace and Progress, Sokoto
5. Ibrahim Adamu Sani, College of Agriculture, Bakura, Zamfara State
