…Says : Workshop’ll Enhance Development
By Onyinyechi Nwankwo
Imo State President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comr. Charles Okey Okere, has praised Governor Hope Uzodinma for organizing a sustainable procurement training for local government area executive chairmen and principal officers through the State Bureau of Public Procurement and Price Intelligence (BPPPI).
The State NULGE President, during an interview with journalists at the end of the 3 days workshop held at Rockview Hotel Owerri, appreciated the governor for being thoughtful in putting up the workshop.
Okere noted that all participants benefited immensely from the richly packed course and was very sure they will put to good use all they learnt to enhance leadership for even development and progress of the state beginning from the local government areas.
Comrade Okere who is also the Vice Chairperson of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Imo State informed journalists that the Procurement Process is an International Acceptable Standard and Practice which the World Bank is interested in which sole idea is to amiliorate corruption and control the use of public funds.
He added that the implementation of procurement law in any state enhances its development, as it allows for due process in disbursement of public funds and execution of projects.
“Go and verify , any State where the procurement process is followed religiously there is unprecedented development in that state, as it enables monitoring and tracking of contracts for public benefits.
“The law could be referred to as due process and is in stages, firstly is the identification and assessment of needs (goods and services), next is planning and budgeting, followed by advertisement and request for bidding to make the job competitive and also create opportunity to select quality contractors/ suppliers with good records before contracts are awarded” Okere explained.
Okere saluted the current Executive Chairmen of various LGAs for being exceptional in their working relationships with local government functionaries and members of NULGE, assuring them of maximum cooperation from union.
He applauded the DG and the entire staff of BPPPI for a Job well done, saying collaborating with erudite scholars from FUTO is the major reason for the success recorded.
Imo NULGE President also duffed his cap for the Chairman and members of the Local Government Service Commission who declared the workshop open and monitored the training process.
