Kwara gov’t calls for integration of procurement plans into budget process
The Kwara State Government has called for the integration of procurement considerations into the budget preparation process to enhance efficiency, improve the accuracy of budget estimates, and strengthen expenditure management.
This development will promote value for money in the utilization of public resources and strengthen public procurement processes across the state.
During a visit by the management of the Kwara State Public Procurement Agency (KW-PPA) to her office, the State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Ronke Arinde, acknowledged the agency’s significant contributions to improving procurement practices and providing professional guidance to government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
Arinde commended the agency for its efforts in capacity building and training planning officers across MDAs, noting that such initiatives significantly contribute to effective planning, budgeting, and the overall socio-economic development of the state.
She assured the agency of the ministry’s continued cooperation and support, stressing the need for stronger collaboration among the institutions responsible for planning, budgeting, finance, and procurement to ensure the effective implementation of government programs and projects.
The commissioner further assured the agency that its participation in the Central Budget Committee (CBC) would be strengthened to ensure that procurement requirements are adequately considered, properly costed, and aligned with the state’s development priorities.
Earlier, the General Manager of the Kwara State Public Procurement Agency, QS Raheem Abdulbaaki, highlighted the importance of institutionalizing the preparation of the Annual Procurement Plan before the commencement of the annual budget preparation process.
According to him, the Annual Procurement Plan will enable MDAs to identify their anticipated procurement needs, prioritize them, estimate associated costs, determine appropriate procurement methods, and establish realistic implementation timelines.
Abdulbaaki explained that undertaking procurement planning ahead of budget preparation would provide the government with a clearer understanding of its procurement requirements and the resources needed to execute them effectively.
The general manager noted that the approach would improve the quality and accuracy of budget estimates, reduce unnecessary variations and supplementary procurement requests, facilitate the timely commencement of procurement processes, improve budget implementation and expenditure management, and promote transparency, accountability, and value for money.
He emphasized that procurement should not be treated as an activity that begins only after the approval of the budget, but rather as an integral component of the planning and budgeting process.
He proposed stronger and more structured collaborations with the ministry to develop practical frameworks.
He added that these measures would make the Annual Procurement Plan an integral part of the state’s annual budget preparation cycle, and he assured that resources allocated to the agency would continue to be utilized responsibly, efficiently, and in accordance with the principles of accountability, transparency, and value for money.
Reiterating that enhanced collaboration would improve project delivery, he noted that the effective utilization of public resources, greater transparency, and accountability would drive sustainable socio-economic development in the state.