By Dwelleth Morountodun
The Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, has said corruption remains a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, political stability, economic and social wellbeing.
The menace of corruption, according to him, is ubiquitous and devastating in most societies and nation, adding that the effects of corruption manifest in private and public sectors.
The Chairman, who was represented by Senator Anthony Agbo, a Director in the Commission, spoke at a capacity building workshop on procurement procedures organized by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) in conjunction with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) recently in Abuja.
To win the war against corruption, he advocated that modern and appropriate mechanisms must be put in place for accountability and transparency in public procurement.
The ICPC boss, noted that a good start is compliance and adherence to the letter and spirit of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and other related statutes.
He said blocking and reforming skewed and crooked public systems is a veritable way to achieving a corruption free service, adding that ICPC advocates this as one of its statutory mandates.
He acknowledged that the reason for the workshop is to enhance capacity of principal officers of NASENI on the standard processes and guiding rules of operations in the delivery of procurement activities provided in the Public Procurement Act 2007, is germane and could not have come at a more audacious time.
Owasanoye, admitted that most corrupt practices perpetrated in the public sector are conducted through the procurement sector, adding that opening up and straightening procurement procedure is vital to promote integrity and accountability of procurements and ultimately good service delivery to our people.
Every MDAs in the Federal Public Service is expected to ensure effective and efficient system to curb corruption.
The essence of the training, he added is to enhance the capacity of key officers to handle government business at all times to display and show integrity, efficiency and service delivery, adding that ICPC will continue to partner relevant stakeholders and drive preventive measures and other interventions to check fraud and corruption.
This, he said reinforces ICPC enforcement powers to arrest and prosecute defaulting individuals and institutions who abuse the trust of the people and the nation.
In his remark, the Auditor-General for the Federation (AGF), Mr. Aghughu Adolphus, who was represented by his Special Adviser (SA) on Technical, Mr. Salawu Apoti, commended the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, for organizing the workshop, adding that it is coming when Nigeria is faced with stack reality of curbing wastages in her public expenditures while striving to generate enough revenue to fund her ever increasing public expenditure.
The only way out according to Aghughu, is to ensure that there is a paradigm shift from the usual notion of is it your father’s business.”
He reiterated that there is need for stakeholders and MDAs to maintain the highest level of transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in public procurement.
The AGF, acknowledged that the absence of transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline were the main reasons why the law on public procurement was enacted in 2007.
As the Auditor General of the Federation, he said he is empowered to conduct periodic checks on finance and related records of NASENI and other MDAs and to submit report to the National Assembly.
He listed over eleven infractions which are usually discovered from review of procurement processes of some MDAs, adding that there is appropriate penalty to be meted out to erring public servant which includes dismissal, demotion in rank and prosecution including jail terms.
Also speaking, the Director General (DG), BPP, Alh. Mamman Ahmadu, represented by the Director in charge of Energy, Engr. Babatunde Kuye, also appreciated NASENI for bringing stakeholders together to address overarching issues on public procurement procedures, adding: ‘when you see someone like Prof. Haruna, who is prepared to get something right before it gets wrong shows his level of confidence and professionalism.
While acknowledging the Bureau as a regulator, he said: “Even though we stand by as anti-corruption agencies, ours is a bit difference because our own delight is that we want MDAs to know the due process so that the possibility of giving work for EFCC and ICPC is reduced.
“Each time we see people run afoul of procurement law, I’m always very sad because it is an indication that there is still much more to do. We are always very happy when see people who are willing and want to know what is due process on their own because it makes our work easier, it gives better value for money for the country.”
He admitted that most times BPP chase organisations to train them, but the reverse is the case with NASENI, adding: “NASENI, brought us here today to add more to their knowledge.” what we are saying is that it shows that processes are being done in line with extant regulations.
Fielding questions from Journalists at the margin of the workshop, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, of NASENI, Prof. Haruna, said the agency invited both the regulators and the anti-graft agencies to scrutiny its operations and to advise the agency if there are loopholes or things that they are not getting right which may not at tandem with the extant laws.
Haruna, said: “With our new status, we know that extra care is needed now that funding has come for people not to lose their focus and not to be intoxicated by the resources that has come in. There is therefore the need to cross check again where new measures are needed.
According to the EVC, finance remains the life line of every activity of any organization, adding that engineers who may be posted to field of finance need to be familiar with current procurement procedures.
He said: “Yes, the procurement law is standard, however the regulations and the procedures and because of the dynamics of time in emergencies like COVID-19 and such other things makes things to be modified on how it is being done.
“So, we need to be updated on the procedures. The essence of procurement law of course you know is to get optimum value for money to ensure that the resources are appropriately applied as much as possible. You can have alternative of their utilization, but which method is optimum and in line with extant legislation and so the fact that you are engineer, you are not exempted ignorance is not an excuse in law you must know the law and all other extant regulations. “Most times engineers and scientists may find themselves in executive positions, but then there is certain knowledge in administration, accounts, finances and even in procurement that is required to manage the engineering know-how that they don’t know. That is why they need continuous training to update their knowledge and to familiarize themselves to be at their best.”