EFCC laments procurement fraud in agencies

Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has described as alarming the rate of procurement fraud in public service in the country.

He expressed his dismay in a goodwill message at the opening ceremony of a training programme for officials in procurement cadre in federal parastatals and agencies organised by the Bureau of Public Procurement yesterday at Digital Bridge Institute, Oshodi, Lagos.

Bawa, who was represented by Mohammed Ahmed Ghali, Head, Lagos Zonal Office of EFCC, added that many procurement professionals in federal institutions were not aware of the potholes that must be avoided in the discharge of their duties.

He, therefore, lauded the organisers of the training, saying: “When public officers are rightly informed or armed with the requisite knowledge to enhance their performances on their jobs, the likelihood of getting involved in fraudulent acts or corrupt practices will be minimal and the society will be the greatest beneficiary.

“It is, therefore, in order and encouraging that, since 2008, the BPP, as empowered by the Public Procurement Act 2007, has consistently organised training and development programmes for procurement professionals in all federal institutions.

“That the conversion training has been sustained for 13 good years since it started in 2008 is evidence of the importance that the BPP attach to the fight against corruption in Nigeria.”

Bawa, who further described the BBP as an ally in the anti-corruption war, added that the Procurement Fraud Section of the EFCC was established to check procurement fraud in the public sector.

“As you may have read in the news, a number of procurement officers in public institutions have been convicted and sentenced to various jail terms after diligent prosecution by the commission, and many are still facing trial in various courts across the country.”

Bawa urged the participants to take maximum advantage of the training to become better procurement officers.