By Deborah Nnamdi
The Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RSBOPP) has embarked on a training session for local government staff to promote transparency and accountability in public procurement at the grassroots level.
According to the Acting Director-General of RSBOPP, Dr Inie Briggs, the initiative is aimed at enhancing the understanding and implementation of public procurement laws and regulations at the local level.
Briggs said the training of Heads of Local Government, Directors, and other senior council staff of the 23 Councils of the state in Port Harcourt, comes at an opportune time, with new local government executives set to assume office after October 5 local council polls.
She pointed out that it is a crucial initiative in ensuring that public resources are utilized efficiently.
She also emphasized the importance of building capacity and ensuring that staff are well-equipped to guide the new leadership on public procurement best practices.
She said “Efficient public procurement can save governments up to 30% of their annual procurement costs. This sentiment is echoed by various studies, including the World Bank’s report, which highlights the potential for significant cost savings through efficient public procurement.”
She stressed that public procurement accounts for a significant share of global GDP, around 12% to 15%, underscoring the potential for significant cost savings.
She, however, noted that the training session was timely, considering the challenges associated with public procurement in Nigeria, while arguing that Inefficient public procurement practices can reduce a country’s GDP by 2% annually, while also increasing project costs by 20-30% due to corruption, delays, and mismanagement.
“By adopting efficient public procurement practices, local governments can unlock significant benefits, including cost savings, improved transparency, and increased efficiency.
“Public procurement can have far-reaching consequences on various aspects of a nation’s development.”
