Local Government Chairmen advised on prudent management of public funds

 

LAGOS State Local Government Chairmen have been admonished to plan and manage public fund wisely in line with due process in procuring goods, works and services to achieve the right value for money.
The General Manager, Public Procurement Agency, Mr. Idowu Onafowote stated this during his presentation on the public procurement process at a training workshop organised for all the newly elected Chairmen in Lagos State at Astral Hall, Agidingbi, Lagos.
He said that the introduction of Procurement Law 2011 is about the acquisition of goods, works and services that must be done in a transparent and prudent manner using different procurement process selection methods.
Onafowote added that procurement system is about competitiveness, inclusiveness, sustainability as well as value for money that supports the State development goals and engenders public confidence.
He urged the chairmen to assist in reducing corruption in the system by ensuring that the procurement policy of accountability, transparency and competitiveness is followed at all times, stressing that it is the main thrust of the public procurement bill.
“Let me appeal to you all, as heads of institutions in the State, not to always pay lip service to the procurement law. You must ensure it is followed to the letter at all times; select the best contractors through the process for supplies or services to be rendered to your institutions”, Onafowote stated.
The General Manager enjoined the Chairmen to develop a procurement plan of what they intend to deliver for the people at the beginning of the year through the assistance of the procurement officer attached to their offices.
According to him, good public procurement process must be efficient and effective, hence the need for the Chairmen, to always engage the right suppliers, contractors and right services provider in a manner that is fair and transparent.
He added that the Local Artisans must be encouraged for development of the local economy because the bed rock of procurement processes is the collective participation of every individual from the beginning of the project to the completion so that every stage of the project could be monitored by professionals involved in the implementation.