Ekiti, Edo, Plateau Ready For Procurement Reform, Anti-graft War– UNDP  

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said Ekiti, Edo, and Plateau states Bureau of Public Procurement have demonstrated the willingness to reform public procurement and champion anti-corruption initiatives.

The UN body noted that through a tailored consortium between UNDP, Accountability Lab, and Open Contracting Partnership the states Anti-Corruption Project is ensuring improved government procurement data, including public access by promoting efficiency.

The social innovator SDG-16, Governance, Peace & Security (GPS) UNDP, Mr Adewole Oke, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the UNDP Nigeria Anti-Corruption Innovation Project Community of Practice Engagement, organised by UNDP, Accountability Lab Nigeria, and Open Contracting Partnership.

Oke said noted that the states have also shown transparent and inclusive delivery of better value for money in public service via improved monitoring and oversight of anti-corruption agencies.

“The community of practice will also help to identify key achievements, obstacles, and forge ahead in positive and strategic ways for the growth of the project in the states and indeed, other states willing to embrace the accomplishments made in the pilot locations.

“In this respect, UNDP is optimistic that this engagement will promote prolific interactions among the participants for an enhanced and credible outcome. We equally hope that the knowledge gained in this session will contribute to increased efficiency in the organization and conduct of the procurement agency in ways that key stakeholders, CSOs, Innovation Hubs, Start-ups, and the general population will have full confidence in the state governments procurement agencies,” he added.

On her part, the programmes manager, Africa Open Contracting Partnership, Andidiong Okon, stressed the need to train and retrain procurement officers.

Okon also noted that procurement department serves as regulatory body for the contracting process.

“So, capacity tends to be one of the biggest challenges across all of the three states,” she added.