BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CHARGES CONTRACTORS TO EMBRACE NDDC PROCUREMENT DIGITIZATION PROCESS
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU
Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement BPP, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun has charged Contractors and Service Providers to embrace digitization process being introduced by Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.
Dr. Adedokun who gave the charge during Stakeholders Sensitization on Policy Reform and Digitization of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Procurement System in Port Harcourt Rivers State, acknowledged that the step taken by the commission would eliminate corruption and promote accountability.
The sensitization on Digital procurement process has been ongoing across Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC mandate states, with the aim to bring contractors and service providers up to speed with the transformation and e-procurement process embarked upon by the Interventionist Agency.
In a lecture on Promoting Best Procurement Practices and Digital Systems for the NDDC,
Director General Bureau of Public procurement, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun while applauding NDDC for taking the bold step and launch into Digitization of Procurement process encouraged service providers to build capacity in line with the reforms.
Dr. Adedokun insisted that there was need for stakeholders to key into transparency and accountability that would boost economic growth and development of the region.
According to him, the Federal Government saved over a trillion Naira within a year through procurement verification.
Addressing the gathering, Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku said that the transition from paper to Digital Procurement process was to curb corruption and promote accountability, as the commission strives to align with international best practices.
The Managing Director who gave assurance that the Digitization process was at the level of implementation, maintained that NDDC projects were being duely procured.
Dr. Ogbuku acknowledged the assistance and support from Bureau of Public procurement which has facilitated project delivery by the commission.
He revealed that he took a strong stance on procurement process of the commission because he noticed a lot of issues with EFCC on assumption of office due to procurement lapses.
On his part, Director Procurement NDDC, Dr. Chuks Osuji told the contractors that Digitization was beneficial to them as it would cut cost and reduce stress.
Dr. Chuks asked contractors to be diligent in documentation and compliance with regulatory requirements.
He asked the Director General, BPP to provide a special procurement Manual for NDDC.
Responding, one of the consultants, Mr. Marizu Uche Pleaded for prompt payment at the completion of the project.
