…..Stakeholders Seek Efficiency ,Autonomy In Public Procurement 

A non governmental organisation, NGO, Accountability lab Nigeria has urged the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji to champion transparency, accountability.

The development partner while lamenting  lack of autonomy  for Bureau of Public Procurement in the country advocated  gender inclusivity through open contracting and e-procurement practices as well as necessary legislative and policy reforms.

The organisation said  interference in the system was making public procurement processes to lack in the necessary transparency and accountability.

The monitoring, evaluation and learning associate of Accountabilitylab Nigeria Mr Alfred Agu stated this in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital at the end of the All Stakeholder Consultative Meeting it convened in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):and Open Contracting Partnership at the weekend.

Accountability Lab had trained select journalists and members of the Civil Society Organizations  on the rudiments of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring/ Tracking. The participants were taught how to access  and utilize and interprete information on the OCDS portal  .

Agu disclosed that they have been working in three states  i.e Ekiti, Plateau and Edo states in the last two years to ensure that transparency and accountability and gender responsive procurement is key in the states’ procurement processes.

He said,  “We are here in Ekiti state, to find out what the challenges have been since the last time we were here and the possible solutions to address the challenges which will be tendered to the state government  for the necessary steps and action. 

“Procurement processes are supposed to be transparent and when there are interferences from may be from the  heads of institutions  or government officials , such actually negates the essence of accountability and transparency in the public procurement processes . 

“There is the need for autonomy for them to be able to make decisions on their own . It will help them in monitoring of projects freely , putting the projects on e-portal without having  any issue of backlash from political heads . So it is necessary for them to stand on their own to make those decisions without any interference. 

It is part of the reasons why we are having this engagement to bring the state actors together into it, to identify those gaps and lapses .

” It is also about how the state actors can actually get the information about the bidding processes  and be included and how the CSOs  can be included in the process to have the needed information by using the freedom of information act to request for update on projects.

“All of these will assist in closing the identified gaps and ensure that  better procurement processes”.

A member of the Civil Society Organisations, Mr Lawrence Richie, who is an he executive director ofbthe Inspiration Care and Development Centre urged the governments and its institutions to always do the needful regarding public procurement processes.

He said, “It is in the way we know our rights and act in a professional way to ask the government to do the needful and in doing that we get the result we are all looking forward to. Government should work for the people and the people should know their right to engagement government in a very constructive and not destructive manner”. 

In its advocacy brief  to the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the NGO sought the support and commitment of the government to champion transparency, accountability, and gender inclusivity through open contracting and e-procurement practices as well as necessary legislative and policy reforms.

These, it said are essential in minimizing waste, ensuring the judicious use of public funds, and improving service delivery. 

Transparency in procurement processes also  builds public trust and confidence in government operations, stimulates local economies, create job opportunities, and support sustainable development.

It stressed that open contracting and e-procurement are crucial to the efforts geared towards promoting transparency and efficiency in public procurement in Nigeria, accountability and efficient use of public resources.

It however, identified limited public awareness, engagement, regulatory gaps, and capacity constraints as parts of the challenges that  must be addressed to fully realize these initiatives’ benefits.

To address some of the challenges, it urged the state government to come up with strong legal and regulatory frameworks for institutionalizing open contracting and gender-responsive procurement practices and mobilize legislative action to ensure compliance across all government agencies.

“Ongoing training and capacity building for procurement officers, civil society, and other stakeholders are essential to maintain the momentum of open contracting initiatives, institutional support and resources to sustain and enhance open contracting and e-procurement platforms.

“All state agencies and departments should be directed to adopt open contracting and integrate e-procurement into their procurement processes.

“Reducing the  reliance on Direct Labour in procurement , particularly by heads of public institutions, should be minimized as it often contradicts global standards of transparency and accountability. Implement a threshold that restricts direct labour in procurement to minor, routine items, ensuring that all significant procurements follow the Public Procurement Law (PPL) of Ekiti State. 

“This alignment with international best practices will reinforce transparency and fairness.’Enhancing Citizen Engagement and Data UtilizationPromote public awareness and engagement in procurement processes. 

“Encourage the use of procurement data by civil society organizations, journalists, and the public to increase transparency and accountability and establishing feedback mechanisms for citizens to report procurement irregularities.

“Strengthening the Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement (EKBPP)Empower the EKBPP to carry out its functions with greater independence, free from constant interference.

“Allocation of sufficient budgetary resources for the development, implementation, and maintenance of e-procurement systems”. 

It said these initiatives not only drive state development and attract investments but also position Ekiti as a model of transparent governance. We strongly urge the Ekiti State Governor and Government to consider our recommendations and take decisive steps to enhance the procurement system, thereby enriching the state, empowering its citizens, and strengthening its reputation.