As part of efforts to further reposition Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement for upgraded procurement practice and effective service delivery, the Bureau organised a one-day induction training session for Procurement Officers in the public service.
Highlighting the overview of Public Procurement in Ekiti State vis-a-vis the various reform programmes, policies and measures that has been injected into the system in recent past to ensure probity, transparency and accountability, among others, the Special Adviser on Procurement Matters cum Director-General of the Bureau, Mr. O’Seun Odewale noted that the training become necessary so as not to leave anyone behind in the drive to place the establishment on the pedestal of acceptable global standards and best practices.
Speaking further, Odewale informed that Ekiti State Public Procurement Law No. 2 of 2010 has been updated and harmonised with the various amendments to accommodate the necessary ingredients that would be beneficial to the State and all stakeholders, especially the good people of Ekiti State. He noted that the need for an updated version of law was further predicated on standard practice to review legal instruments after every ten years in operation.
Describing the new law as unique in its presentation as it covers the totality of procurement processes in the State and the Local Government, as well as the three arms of Government i.e. the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary, Odewale maintained that training and re-training of officers would be given top priority along side other measures such as enforcement of law/regulations, service delivery and orientation among others to achieve the lofty objectives of the Bureau.
In his goodwill message at the training session, the Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Hon.Alaba Abejide who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Adeyemi Owoseni lauded the pragmatic approach and the giant strides of the Director General, Mr. O’Seun Odewale towards achieving success in procurement process.
Citing the ongoing Public Procurement Reform Programs such as the establishment of Procurement Officers cadre in Ekiti State Public Service as a progress marker, the Chairman stressed that the present administration under the leadership of Dr. Kayode Fayemi places a high premium on accountability and transparency in the procurement process in the Public Service of Ekiti State.
“It is necessary to stress that the present administration under the leadership of our dynamic and purposeful Governor-Dr. Kayode Fayemi places a high premium on accountability and transparency in Government business in the State by supporting the Bureau of Public Procurement as a regulatory body to carry out functions relating to procurement activities in all the MDAs and government institutions in the State. The vision of the Bureau is to ensure that government gets value for money in all its procurement by following ethical practices such as openness, probity and accountability” he said.
The training which was an advancement of the 2-days retreat held between Friday 28th February to Saturday 29th February, 2020 at Owo town in Ondo State, was aimed at addressing one of the Bureau’s six pillars of Development Training and Capacity to upgrade procurement activities for optimum service delivery, has sessions on introduction to Public Procurement and overview of Public Procurement in Ekiti State (Public Procurement Reform Programs PPRP); overview of Public Procurement Law,; Procurement methods,Approval thresholds, and Disposal of Public Assets; Procurement Planning and Bid Analysis ; Overview of Local Government Rules, among others.
Festus ABOSEDE
Assistant Director, Information
