NASENI, BPP partner to strengthen procurement processes

National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has promised to ensure strict adherence to procurement laws in the award of contracts for effective service delivery.

The Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Mohammed Haruna, made the pledge, yesterday, at the opening of a four-day capacity-building workshop on procurement organised by the agency and Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) in Abuja.

The event, with the theme, “Strengthening procurement processes in NASENI system-wide”, had about 100 participants selected from various departments of the agency.

Represented by the Coordinating Director, Business and Planning Development, Nonyem Onyechi, the NASENI boss said following due process in procurement would see the Federal Government getting value for money spent on projects.

He noted that procurement officers are drivers and operators of the system, adding that the agency would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the right thing is done with the special fund allocated to it.

According to him, with the agency’s new status of being supervised by the President, extra care is needed for service delivery.

Haruna said: “This training is aimed at enhancing the understanding of procurement officers and other selected officers of the agency.

“This is to ensure that extra care is taken in carrying out procurement activities in the agency and also to update concerned officers on the need to follow procedures on procurement laws in order to get value for money spent on any given project by the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government, via its agencies, awards contracts through the procurement processes and NASENI is not an exception. Therefore, adherence to the Procurement Act 2007 is very cardinal.

“Not to breach the Act, NASENI contacted the BPP for capacity-building, which gave rise to this training in NASENI system wide.

“The agency needs to conform to all procurement regulations and the Act, as this training would increase the knowledge and understanding of the provisions of the Act by participants.”

BPP Director General, Mamman Ahmadu, said his organisation had made giant strides in eradicating corruption in the procurement system since enactment of the law in 2007.

The DG, who was represented by the Director, Energy Infrastructure, Babatunde Kuye, observed that procurement opens public officers to temptation of involving themselves in corrupt practices due to the interface in the contracting process.

He, however, stressed the need for professionals to know the rules and consequences of not doing the right thing.

“There are provisions for sanctions when one violates the procurement law. Procurement is one of the easiest ways to make money and also the easiest path to jail. If you don’t follow the rules and you are caught, you will go to jail. Public procurement is a serious business and getting it right will help our country. This is a though time and we must use our resources well. Therefore, we, at BPP, are more interested in public officers getting it right,” he added.