Edo Procurement Agency Trains EDHA Tenders Board Committee On Procurement Framework
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Edo State Procurement Agency (ESPA) has trained the Edo House of Assembly Standing Committee Tenders Board, other members of the house & some staff of the house of Assembly on the state public procurement legal framework.
The Tenders Board Committee is headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko. Other members at the training were Hon. Idiaye Yekini (PDP Akoko-Edo), Sunday Ojezele (PDP Esan South-East), Richard Edosa (LP, Oredo West) and Charity Aiguobarueghian (PDP Ovia North East 1 & the Majority Leader of the house).
The Resource person, Henry Idogun, MD/CEO, Edo State Procurement Agency who took the lawmakers through the overview of the State public Procurement legal framework in Benin, noted that the Hallmark of effective public procurement system was fairness, reliability, economy, efficiency, transparency, accountability and ethical standard.
He said public procurement was a strategic management functions that deals with the acquisition of external resources needed for public programmes and projects using public funds and following systemic process.
He told the lawmakers that the provisions of public procurement law applied to all public bodies in Edo state including the legislature stressing that, public procurement was critical for national development.
According to him, it constitutes a large proportion of the gross domestic product (25-30%)in developing and emerging market economies.
“I want you to know that part of the provisions in the law states that there shall be no award of contract without the approval of the Tenders Board vested with the approving authority.
“Violation shall attract two years imprisonment or an option of fine not less than N2 million,” he said.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Deputy Speaker and chairman of the House Standing Committee on Tenders Board, Rt. Hon. (Mrs.) Maria Omozele Oligbi-Edeko Esq said the training was to enable the tender’s board carry out its activities from a well-informed perspective.
Oligbi-Edeko said, “The tender’s board has been inactive for years now. Since the autonomy of the House, it has become imperative that we have this training to ensure that our processes and activities are in compliance with extant laws,” she said.
The Deputy Speaker thanked the MD for the robust engagement which she said, would enhance the committee’s performance.
