Accountability Lab Nigeria, has introduced a tool targeted at entrenching accountability and merits in procuring government contracts.

Speaking at a media roundtable yesterday in Abuja, the County Director, Accountability Lab, Mr. Odeh Friday, stated that the tool – Ethics 1st. was a powerful catalyst for fostering a corporate compliance culture among small and growing African enterprises.

Odeh further disclosed that the body has established partnerships with public procurement agencies to ensure that they align with industry best practices and to provide enhanced access to global opportunities

Noting that the campaign has been running for two years, the director assured companies and businesses of fairness and transparency in the government procurement process with the introduction of the Ethics 1st tool.

“We have already worked with both Plateau and Ekiti Public Procurement agencies and we are currently working with the Edo State government. However, we are still in discussion with the federal government”, he revealed.

Odeh therefore urged state and federal governments to adopt the Ethics 1st tool for verification during contracts award to avoid nepotism and abandonment of projects. He also called on companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to engage in the campaign to ensure integrity and validity of their business.

Odeh further implored members of the media to create awareness and ensure availability of resource persons during investigations of defaulting companies.

He added that the campaign was aimed at ensuring that Nigerian companies and businesses comply with due process and ethics while providing quality service to citizens and ease anxiety about scammers.

According to him, there would be proper verification processes for all organizations to influence ethical behaviour and fairness in their dealings with the public.

Also speaking, Mr. Mnenge Shiiwua, a project officer, advised companies to desist from using the tool as a way to mislead citizens about their integrity, stating that the agency will take responsibility and sanction any company as a deterrent to others.

He also noted that media partnership was important in their capacity as watchdogs.