The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe has called for good procurement practices to enhance economic development and sustainability.
The Permanent Secretary made the call at a One Day Workshop on Public Procurement, organized by the Ministry in collaboration with Messrs. AAA Integrated & Dynamic Works Ltd; at Edo House, Abuja recently.
Dr. Umakhihe represented by Director, Human Resources Management, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Alade noted that the workshop with the theme, “Enhancing the values of Public Procurement in the Agricultural Sector” was to achieve value for money, with clear manifestations in enhanced human welfare and improved economic growth.
He recalled that while presenting the 2024 budget tagged “Budget of Renewed Hope” to the National Assembly, President Tinubu made it clear that his top priorities were Nigeria’s National Defense & Internal Security, local job creation, macro-economic stability, investment, environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security.
He pointed out that virtually all the priorities mentioned above, are directly linked to the agriculture sector and added that most of the Ministry’s activities and programmes are being carried out in form of goods, works and services, which are procurement in nature.
He, therefore, stated that it was imperative that “we all keep abreast of the latest developments in the procurement process towards a seamless and efficient delivery of the goals and objectives of the Agriculture sector”.
Speaking further, the Permanent Secretary revealed that prior to the enactment of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, procurement activities in Nigeria were being carried out through financial regulations with inadequate procurement processes.
He pointed out that procurement process was expected to start with the assessment of needs, then to the bidding process, awards of contracts, contract management and final payment, noting that the essence was to achieve value for money, with clear manifestations in enhanced human welfare and improved growth.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Director Procurement Department, Mr. Sunday Adebomi gave a brief background of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) highlighting what led to the setting up of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligent Unit (BMPIU) known as Due process in 2001.
According to him, “it was to implement the Federal Government’s Public Procurement Reform Policy aimed at minimizing open abuses to known rules, processes and standards in the award and execution of public sector contracts in Nigeria”.
He also stated the objectives of establishing the Bureau of Public Procurement to include; harmonizing existing government policies and practices, ensuring probity, accountability and transparency in the procurement process, establish pricing standards and benchmarks amongst others.
Highlight of the event was paper presentation by officials of BPE and questions and answers to interactive sessions.
In attendance were Directors of Department, Heads of Units, Chief Executive Officers/Director Generals of Agencies and Institutes under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
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