Akwa Ibom State government has stressed the need to empower indigenous and other contractors with strong ties to the state, warning that such job awards must follow the due process of open bidding.
Towards this end, the Finance and General Purpose Committee (FGPC) saddled with the responsibility of recruitment, monitoring and evaluation, has been tasked to work with other government agencies to implement the policy.
The government maintained that transparency and economic empowerment remain the major planks of the scheme, saying that a digital procurement portal aimed at creating more opportunities for indigenous contractors has been launched.
At a joint press briefing at the weekend at Government House, Uyo, the commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Engr Frank Ekpenyong described the initiative as a trailblazing, assuring that “it will ensure fairness in the bidding process for government contracts.”
The commissioner explained that the new portal, created on the directive of Governor Eno, was deliberately designed to eliminate favouritism and backdoor dealings, while allowing qualified contractors to apply for projects seamlessly.
“We are here today because we have a governor who believes in transparency. His directive was clear – every contract and procurement bidding must be open to all qualified persons. This portal ensures that only competent contractors with proven capacity are selected for government jobs,” he explained.
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