KWARA GOVT TO STRENGTHEN PROCUREMENT LAWS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY
The Kwara State Government has once again reiterated its commitment to strengthening the procurement processes at the Local government levels to ensure accountability and transparency.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Hon. Abdullah Abubakar Bata stated this during an interactive meeting between the officials of the Kwara State Public Procurement Agency and all the Executive Chairmen of Local Government Councils in the State.
The Commissioner disclosed that the meeting has became imperative to ensure due process in the procurement procedure at the Councils. He acknowledged that series of seminars and workshops had taken place on the procurement laws and expressed happiness that the laid down laws are being adhered to in the projects executed so far.
The Commissioner further disclosed that with the inception of new Executive Chairmen at all the Councils, it was important to facilitate the meeting to avail the Chairmen of all the rudiments of the procurement processes.
Hon. Bata thanked the Chairmen for participating in the interactive session, as he was optimistic that the procurement procedure would be further strengthened.He appreciated the Procurement Agency for enlightening the Council of the preliminary process of procurement and assured them of more avenues for comprehensive training.
The Commissioner, however, disclosed that the State Procurement Agency would not be involved in the procurement processes at the Council levels but would only provide mentorship and guidance for the Local Government Officials.
In his submission, the Chief Executive of Public Procurement Agency, QS Raheem Abdulbaki disclosed that the Agency was created to ensure probity, transparency and accountability in public procurement in Kwara State, adding that the purpose of the interactive meeting was to intimate the Executive Chairmen of the necessary processes involved in public procurement.
QS Abdulbaki said since the creation of the Agency by Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (CON), they have have organized sensitization workshops on procurement across all the ministries, departments, agencies and tertiary institutions in the State. Therefore, extending such gesture to the third tier of Government would be of great assistance to them.He thanked the Commissioner for facilitating the interactive meeting with the Chairmen, which he said has provided the necessary insights for the Chairmen.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairmen, the Executive Chairman of Kaiama, who is also the ALGON Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Abubakar Danladi appreciated the Commissioner and the Agency for the insights.
The ALGON boss said they had been very careful to ensure they abide by the procurement laws as the technocrats in the Councils had been of immense assistance to them in ensuring they adhered to set rules and procedures.He assured of the readiness of all Councils to partner with the Agency in domesticating the procurement guidelines at the Local Government.
The Press Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Press Secretary,Oba Azeez reports.
