As a way of ensuring that Staff keep to the rules and also obtain value for Government’s money, the management of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) at the weekend invited both the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to train and build the capacity of the Agency’s staff to follow due  process and work in line with extant regulations in carrying out financial obligations and procurement especially with its new funding status and return under direct supervision by the President.

The Agency’s Managing Directors/Chief Executives from the ten (10) research and development (R&D’s) Institutes and top management staff whose duties directly relate to procurement and financial operations and other Principal Officers in NASENI system-wide gathered for a two(2) Day training session at Zuma Rock Resort, Zuba Niger State.

The training on procurement capacity building with the theme “Strengthening Procurement Process in NASENI System Wide” examined some of the pitfalls surrounding procurement procedures, rules and regulations including the common practices which made procurement officers acted contrary to the laws and the accompanying punishments.

The Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI  Engr. Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna who authorised the training, during the opening ceremony, said the training was to ensure that extra care would be taken in carrying out procurement activities in the Agency and also to update  concerned officers on the need to follow procedures on procurement laws to get value for the money spent on any given project by the Federal Government”.

According to Prof Haruna “with our new status of being supervised by the President of the country directly, we know that extra care is needed. We are taking this caution, most especially because before now we were operating without funds and now that funds had been given to us, there is need to cross check again which new measures are needed for effective service delivery.”

He said the Agency had undergone several transformations recently including training and retraining of staff on special needs to ensure that the management and staff of NASENI were on top of their games and that whatever staff did would be in line with best practices.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman, “just as we are rated number one(1) in Technology, research and Innovation, we should be  rated same way in following due process too in whatever we do”.

He noted that “since the Agency is under the supervision of the number one citizen of the country, it cannot afford to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the right thing is done with the special fund allocated to the Agency. we cannot afford to disappoint Mr. President. We are obligated to be accountable and to follow due process”.

In order to effectively accomplish the aim of the training workshop, the Agency brought Senior resource persons from the ICPC, BPP, Auditor General of the Federation and also Accountant General of the Federation to deliver on the workshop training modules by themselves.

The officers from the invited institutions were all present at the two Day training and they took turns to put the NASENI staff through various extant regulations and knowledge of procurement processes including other related matters to keep them informed and to prevent them from running foul of the laws.

In his goodwill message at the opening ceremony, the Auditor- General of the Federation, Mr. Adolphus Aghughu enjoined NASENI to maintain the highest level of transperncy, accountability and fiscal discipline in public procurement, saying these were the main reasons why the laws on public procurement were enacted in 2007.

The Auditor-General who was represented by Mr.S. Apoti said  “transparency is anchored on honesty, integrity, exemplary leadership, absence of hypocrisy and financial moral rectitude and by extension transparency leads to accountability which requires being answerable and responsible for one’s actions.”

According to him, Fiscal discipline connotes the responsibility bestowed on those involved in budget implementation to ensure that a balance is struck between revenue generation and expenditure.

He explained that attention should not be on how to spend only but how to meet the revenue target as well, especially in the wake of unstable crude oil price, a major revenue earner to the economy.

He however advised NASENI procurement officers on how to be above board in public procurement dealings which he listed to include keeping abreast with the letters and spirit of Public Procurement Act 2007 and all regulations made pursuant to the Act, ensuring that all procurements are appropriated for, all contracts awards are made by the appropriate Tenders Board and to receive value for every Naira of taxpayers’ money spent amongst others.

While wishing the participants a fruitful deliberation, he charged them to stay with Mr. President’s message and to keep the conversation that ” Change Begins with Me” and that it is the only way to collectively enthrone transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in public procurement.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of ICPC Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, SAN, who was represented by Senator Anthony Agbor said the effects of corruption manifesting in both private and public sectors remain a threat to the nation’s democracy, political stability, economic and social wellbeing.

He said every Ministry, Department and Agency in the Federal Public Service was expected to ensure effective and efficient system and procedure to curb corruption.

He explained that most corrupt practices perpetrated in the public sector were conducted through the procurement sector; so opening up and straightening procurement procedures was vital to promote integrity and accountability of procurements and ultimately good service delivery to the people.

In his keynote address, the Director General of BPP, Mr. Mamma Ahmadu who was represented by Engr. Babatunde Kore commended the Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI for his achievements in championing advancement of science and technology in the country, saying that the whole idea of due process was to avoid wrong doings and not to catch people for wrong doing.

“For the fact that NASENI was interested in following due process in all its procurement dealings, it showed that the Agency is willing to embrace transparency and accountability in service delivery, he said.