The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) weekend trained its directors and senior management staff on due process for public procurement and service delivery.
Resource persons were from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission, the Bureau of Public Procurement as well as the Offices of the Auditor-General for the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
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Executive Vice Chairman, NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, said the training was to ensure extra care in carrying out procurement activities and to update the participants on the need to follow procedures on procurement laws to get value for funds spent on projects.
He said: “just as we’re rated number one in technology, research and innovation, we should be rated same way in following due process too in whatever we do,” he said.
According to him, since NASENI is under the supervision of the president, it has to ensure the right thing is done with the special fund allocated to the agency.
The Auditor-General for the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu, represented by Salawu Apoti, said attention should not be on only on how to spend money, but also on how to meet the revenue target amidst unstable crude oil price.
He urged NASENI procurement officers on how to be above board in public procurement dealings.
Chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, represented by Senator Anthony Agbor, said corruption remained a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, political stability, economic and social wellbeing.
He said most corrupt practices in the public sector were through procurement.
Director-General, BPP, Mamma Ahmadu, represented by Babatunde Kuye, said being interested in following due process in all its procurement dealings showed that NASENI was willing to embrace transparency and accountability in service delivery.
