The Rivers State Government has taken a bold step to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement process, with the governing board of the state Bureau on Public Procurement vowing to eliminate over-bloated contracts and ensure value for money.
  
Speaking to newsmen after a meeting with staff members of the bureau, the Chairman of the governing board, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, emphasised the importance of procurement in driving the state’s development.

Oko-Jaja pointed out that to achieve this goal, the board has established a price intelligence department to monitor and regulate contract prices, ensuring they align with market research and are within acceptable thresholds. 
   
He noted that the monitoring and intelligence department will also be tasked with ensuring contractors deliver on their promises, preventing the use of substandard materials, and avoiding costly project failures.

Oko-Jaja highlighted the board’s commitment to supporting the state governor’s mantra of “Rivers first,” ensuring that programmes and policies are implemented efficiently and effectively, with the ultimate goal of benefiting the people of the state.
    
He said: “Procurement is now a global issue, and without proper procurement plan, the state, the nation or even the world at large cannot move forward.
  
“We want to ensure that there is value for money and that the state government gets the best possible services and products at the best possible price.
  
“We want to ensure that the procurement process is done in such a manner that it’s not over bloated, that the contract being awarded is not over bloated, that what we can use to do one job is actually what it is and not be used to do no job at all or  used even to align pocket.”