The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has urged the Federal Government to always engage professionals in the procurement processes of the country’s budget.
The Registrar, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu gave the advice at the institute’s 2024 Group B Induction Ceremony in Abuja on Monday.
Aliyu said that there was a need for government to professionalise procurement as enshrined in the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
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He said that it would ensure best practices as well as value for money principles in government spending.
According to him, the procurement and supply chain management professionals need necessary recognition and a seat at the top level of governance.
He revealed that a World Bank study, in conjunction with the institute’s procurement assessment report had shown that professionals were not assigned to handle procurement processes.
“That report revealed that 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the total budget of the nation goes into contract, procurement and services.
” As a result of that, they gave a recommendation that attention should be given to the professionals to handle the procurement aspect of this country so that value can be derived from our money.
“But you find out that all sector specialists will now tell you they are procurement professionals.
” The question is, this is an area that you are not lettered, you do not have knowledge of it. How do you think you will do it to the satisfaction of the citizen?”
The registrar called on governments at all levels to pay serious attention to the art and science of procurement and supply chain management.
On his part, the Institute’s Coordinator for North Central Zone, Dr Abdul Mamman called for the inauguration of the National Council of Public Procurement.
Mamman said that the establishment of a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) without a council was a violation of public procurement act.
“Over time, there have been this issue between the institute and the body established by an act of parliament which is also the BPP.
“We are supposed to work hand in hand because the Public Procurement Act has two administrative hierarchies.
“One is the National Council of Public Procurement, which is saddled with the responsibility on churning out policies and procedures for the bureau to also implement.
“But to our chagrin, up till this moment, since 2007, the government had not thought it wise to establish or inaugurate the council,” he said .
He, therefore, emphasised the need for the training of professionals on the intricacies and technicalities of procurement processes.
Meanwhile, the President of the institute, Alhaji Sikiru Balogun, charged the inductees to be ambassadors of the institute by manifesting integrity in their conduct, competence and trustworthiness.
Balogun, represented by the first Vice-President, Bello Alkali, tasked the inductees to step into the world with a commitment of making changes with their profession.
“Procurement is about trust. Public and private sector entrust their resources to the procurement officers such that they will improve on the bottom line.
“If procurement officers are not trustworthy, you can see that the agencies they are represented are in great trouble,” he said.
One of the inductees, Mrs Ifeoluwapo Egweni, pledged to use the knowledge gained to change some practices that were not in line with what the government wanted, or what the institution had prescribed.
“Going through this graduate course, I will be able to perform my duties at work more professionally.
” I will also be applying the procurement best practices that I have learned here to my career to make sure the government gets value for its money.
“And also, I will be able to change certain practices that are not in line with what the government wants or what the institution has prescribed,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 453 members, after taking the oath of office, were inducted into the institute with the task of upholding excellent professional ethics. (NAN)
