In two days’ time, that is on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the Delta State Public Procurement Commission will be organizing a training for respective MDAs at Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba. It is part of its focus on promoting the M.O.R.E. Agenda of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori through modern public procurement practice, under the direction of the functioning Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Anthony Jibunma. He spoke to The Pointer recently on what the participants should expect and why the theme of the workshop is apt.
Excerpts…
What is the theme of the training workshop and what makes it relevant?
The training is themed “Promoting the MORE Agenda through Modern Public Procurement Practice.” It aligns with one of the key components of the MORE Agenda which is “Realistic Reforms”. We believe that all MDAs should key into what it takes to have a modern public procurement process in the state. They should be reform-minded and that is one of the reasons we are organizing this training, in addition to those we had organized in the past.
Who are the resources persons and what areas have they been selected to speak on?
The resource persons are very competent public procurement professionals who will be coming from within and outside the state. As tested practitioners, they are expected to do justice to the topics, which have to do with steps to modern public procurement practice, while we have speakers who will then guide the MDAs in connecting the knowledge acquired to their daily routines to ensure there are in line with the MORE Agenda.
Which of the MDAs are expected at the training?
Participants are drawn from MDAs in the Delta State Civil Service. They stand to gain a lot because the training is aimed at improving their knowledge of modern public procurement practice and application of the new Delta State Public Procurement Law 2020 and extant procurement guidelines, with focus on transparency, accountability and value for money.
How far has the Commission gone in realizing its key objectives?
A lot has been done in promoting transparency, accountability and value for money in public Procurement in the state. The level of implementation of the procurement law is high, particularly in the mainstream MDAs. As for others, we have embarked on renewed enlightenment and advocacy, that is talking about the parastatals, judiciary and others.
What is the role of procurement officers and to what extent have they discharged their functions?
Procurement officers have been deployed to various MDAs by the Office of the Head of Service (HoS). So far, they have impacted positively on procurement processes in various MDAs, particularly in the area of interfacing between the MDAs and the Delta State Procurement Commission
What are some of your achievements and challenges?
There is a high level of implementation of the Delta State Public Procurement Law across MDAs, especially in contract awarding ministries. We have also implemented the World Bank assisted E-Procurement Online System in four pilot MDAs, as well as rolled out the system in five additional MDAs. Our target is to achieve complete online e-procurement system in the entire Delta State civil service.
Presently, all our programmes are anchored on the MORE Agenda of His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, especially with regards to his Realistic Reforms. The Commission has introduced the OCDS online system that enhances transparency in procurement, award and execution of contracts. The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is an online App domiciled in the Delta State Procurement Commission.
Can you tell you briefly about your goals and expertise?
As the functioning Director-General of the Delta State Public Procurement Commission, my central focus is to ensure total implementation of the Delta State Procurement Law in the state civil service and to entrench global standards in public procurement across board. In terms of organizational structure, the Commission has four departments with the DG as the head while there is a Procurement Council that handles policy matters.
What is your message to the training participants?
They are encouraged to bring the skills to be acquired during this training to bear on their respective functions in their various establishments. We will continue to mould them to become catalysts in the implementation of procurement guidelines in various MDAs. Ultimately, we want all Deltans to enjoy the full benefits of all government programmes and projects as desired by the State Governor.
