The African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) on Tuesday said effective implementation of the procurement law could checkmate corruption in governance in the country.
Executive Director of the organisation, Mr David Ugolor, stated this when he visited the Edo office of Public Procurement Agency (PPA) in Benin.
Ugolor urged federal and state governments to build strong institutions such as PPA in order to enforce positive change in all spheres of governance.
“I must say that ANNEJ was in the forefront in the advocacy for probity and transparency in governance that culminated in the outcome of Public Procurement Law which has been domesticated in some states,’’ he said.
He stressed that since eradication of corruption in governance was high in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, and with declining resources, effective implementation of PPA would help governments to avoid wastage.
Ugolor said, “since ANNEJ promotes the advocacy of transparency, we are happy that Edo has domesticated the law.
“But, for any law to become effective, it must be people-driven, they must be conversant with that law that will enable them to hold government accountable at all times.’’
He commended Edo government for signing the EDPPA into law and ensuring that its helmsman was technically knowledgeable about its operations.
He however, said that the agency should explore the aspect of the law that encouraged partnership and involvement of civil society organizations for the strengthening of the institution.
Responding, EDPPA Executive Director, Mr Henry Idogun, who appreciated the visit, commended the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for having the courage to promulgate the EDPPA law.
Idogun, who expressed optimism that the agency would help to regulate financial recklessness in the state, disclosed that it had already held sensitization conferences in the three senatorial districts in the state.
He said that the agency was in the process of strengthening its human capacity through recruitment and conversion of personnel as procurement officers to be deployed to all government establishments.
“We are ready to partner and collaborate with CSOs like ANNEJ to learn from your wealth of experience.
‘’But for now, though we may not have the full complement of staff, government has given us approval for recruitment of procurement personnel in every MDA,’’ he said