By Osemudiamhen Gloria
While the global appeal of the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) initiative continues to attract the attention of other States in Nigeria as well as national governments in Africa and elsewhere, the e-procurement process of the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration is the latest reform gaining traction across the country.
Obaseki’s high premium on the use of technology in governing has eliminated man-made barriers created by bureaucrats and their agents as well as the drags and delays in government business which result in inefficiency.
About a week ago, precisely on Tuesday May 17, 2022, the Director General of the Bayelsa State Due Process Bureau, Mr. Aaron Nicodemus, led senior officials of his agency to the Edo State Public Procurement Agency (EDPPA) at the Secretariat Complex, Benin City, to understudy the technology-driven procurement process in the State.
The study tour, which was necessitated by the growing need to enhance efficiency and capacity building in Public Procurement regulation and practice, featured cross-fertilization of ideas, sharing of success stories as well as exposition on recent trends in Public Procurement.
Welcoming his guests, Mr. Henry Idogun, Managing Director, EDPPA, noted that part of the transformation in Edo State is the firm establishment of the Procurement Officers’ cadre. This engenders a new culture and a major pillar that will sustain the Agency.
Mr. Idogun also stressed the need for the deliberate building of staff capacity if advancement is to be achieved.
According to him, “Training of new recruits as well as training and retraining of staff are essential. Through this we are able to equip staff with the necessary tools they need to work, build their capacity for the work and harness the best of their potential.
“The EDPPA has not failed in this area even as it has set in place some policies and programmes to build and enhance the workforce which will indirectly aid in accelerating the growth of the Agency and State at large”.
The Edo State Public Procurement Agency (EDPPA), determined to set a new trajectory for development, subscribes to all development-oriented actions, policies and programs, he added.
As an agency which core values are transparency, accountability and value for money, EDPPA has worked relentlessly to ensure these are actualized through practice, not just theory.
It is no surprise that people hide under the umbrella of accountability to embezzle public funds which they squander or use in feathering their nests.
They inflate their expenditure figures to siphon and divert public funds. Finding it difficult to bring their integrity to play, they become manipulative and cunning in financial issues or management.
However, the story is different with the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration which ensures strict adherence to the various procurement laws and best practices.
There has been transformation in EDPPA which has informed speedy development and progress, thereby making Edo stand out in a positive light among other states in the country.
During an exposition session where both parties drew from each other’s repository of ideas, Mr. James Owolabi, Head of Enforcement, Compliance and Monitoring Unit, EDPPA, explained that the Unit collates and reviews annual procurement plans, clearance of solicitors’ documents, review of requests for use of restricted method of procurement and all the responsibilities that pertain to the Unit.
In the same vein, Mrs. Jane Cole, Head of Procurement Audit, EDPPA Unit amongst others also highlighted the various roles played by the Unit to ensure the smooth running of the Agency.
The delegates from Bayelsa State confirmed the various positive reports they had received about EDPPA, which were key reasons for their study tour.
They were taken through EDPPA facilities: the Registry, e-procurement, finance and accounts, work station, Enforcement, Compliance and Monitoring, Procurement Audit, Contractors’ Registration, Research and Intelligence, Communication and Publicity amongst others, while being briefed on the functionalities of the various units.
On e-procurement, Edo State is one of the few states that have adopted this system of procurement. This is a laudable initiative by Governor Obaseki who is leveraging technology to drive speedy progress in the economic sector as obtainable in the developed world.
The DG of Bayelsa State Due Process Bureau observed that Edo State has taken a giant leap by adopting e-procurement which is still alien to many states and urged that it should be sustained.
As opined by the Managing Director of the EDPPA, technology is the future of the entire public financial management space and e-procurement is about technology. With e-procurement, there is reduction in human interference, political interference, elimination of paper, elimination of errors and the speed of transaction is incredible.
Edo State Public Procurement Agency being a regulatory agency, ensures the application of fair, competitive, transparent and value for money standards and practices for the procurement of public assets and services.
