The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has trained staff members on effective procurement strategies to help the commission reduce costs by negotiating better prices, improving supplier relationships, and streamlining processes.
Speaking at yesterday’s graduation ceremony for the participants in Maiduguri, Mohammed Alkali, MD/ CEO of the NEDC, said procurement can ensure that goods and services meet the required quality standards, reducing the risk of defects, rework or reputational damage.
Procurement can automate and streamline processes, reduce manual errors, and free up resources for more strategic activities. It can also help identify and mitigate risks associated with suppliers, contracts, and regulatory compliance.
“Other sector specialists and non-procurement staff alike will appreciate the teamwork and the transparency nature of the result-oriented planning processes. Participants will understand the techniques required in advert drafting and why the criteria set in the advert remained sacrosanct.
Also, the lead consultant for the workshop from MK Square Global Concept Limited, Alhaji Dulomi Makinta, said the training would enable the participants to understand the need for a serene environment, working tools/ materials and other office equipment during the evaluation.
He added that participants would understand the nine essential procurement steps with value-adding and that service delivery would be easy.
“The accounting officer will fully control and picture the procurement processes from day one. The training will save the commission time and resources needed to achieve its objectives effectively and efficiently, “Makinta said.
One of the participants, Engr Abdulazeez Bala, an assistant manager in NEDC’s procurement department, said he had learnt the processes involved from the pre-bidding stage to the bidding stage and the post-bidding stage.
“The lessons learnt were demonstrated physically for all the participants during the training, he said.
