BPP holds e-procurement sensitisation workshop in Rivers
…Says it will ensure transparency, erase bureaucracy
Barth Ndubuwah,Port Harcourt
Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), last week, organized a one-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders, comprising contractors, SMEs operators in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to acquaint them with the benefits of the e-procurement system.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the programme, Director of Education, Database and ICT, Mr Aliu Edoje said the essence of the workshop is to sensitise stakeholders on the recently introduced e-procurement system, pointing out that the system will make procurement less cumbersome and eliminate favouritism, commonly referred to as ‘man-know-man.’
Edoje described e-procurement as all inclusive and capable of creating opportunities for everybody, including the youths.
“The training programme is for contractors and all other relevant stakeholders. After here, we will continue the sensitisation in Lagos. So where we stop, you the media will continue.
“The essence is to make procurement system less cumbersome and remove ‘man-know-man.’ Introduction of ICT has fastened the procurement system. E-procurement is all inclusive, it is for big contractors,SMEs,youths and everybody,” the Director explained.
He said that BPP plans to even extend the training to the universities, which are professional teachers or trainers for more effective sensitisation.
In a chat with Mr Monsu Maman, also of BPP, he said the primary aim of the sensitisation workshop was to let everyone know about e-procurement system, so that when it comes on stream nobody will be taken unawares.
He ruled out the possibility of people not willing to comply with the innovation, stressing that there is no way anybody can get money from government outside the e-procurement system when fully operational.
“We are optimistic that everybody will comply, because if you don’t comply,you won’t get money from government,” Maman said.
Earlier in the programme, a Consultant and resource person, Mr Oluwadare Opeyemi, while making presentation on ‘e-procurement adoption, strategies to overcome adoption barriers’ emphasized on the benefits of e-procurement system, such as efficiency, reduced cost, streamlined process, among others.
He, however, identified some possible barriers to e-procurement as, false pricing, system sabotage and lack of commitment.
Another Consultant,Tracy Okoro who spoke on ‘call to action and adoption programming’ said it is important for all stakeholders in the procurement industry to key into the e-procurement regime, so that when it kicks off, they would not be left behind.
She stressed that the essence of the workshop was to make people appreciate and practice e-procurement, with a view to enjoying the benefits inherent in it.
