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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has stressed the need for a third party arrangement in procurement and bidding processes of government business to engender good governance in the country.
The body explained that the third party arrangement could come in the form of Independent observers in the tender board of every agency of government to ensure that bidding processes were free, fair and credible to avoid incidents of abandoned projects.
It equally maintained that the absence of independent observers in the tenders’ board would amount to government losing huge sums of money to non-professional service providers.
Speaking on the forthcoming public lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Awka branch with the theme ‘A Case For Good Governance: The Role Of Procurement Process’ the branch chairman Engr. Edmond Chukwuemeka Nkalu said there was a dire need to review procurement processes in the country to reflect strict adherence to due process to avoid unnecessary wastage.
Nkalu, who spoke with the reporter at the weekend in Awka, observed that procurement processes in the country had been marred by sharp practices; accusing political friends and supporters of powers that be of abandoning projects due to shoddy deals in the bidding and procurement processes.
He however posited that the forthcoming maiden public lecture of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Awka branch slated for Thursday 30th August, 2018 at Finotel hotel Awka aims at enlightening the public about procedures for awarding contracts backed by law.
The NSE Awka branch chairman also noted that the lecture would encourage people to seek good governance from those at the helm of affairs just as it would equally be an eye-opener for the people to seek improvement in the procurement system for the betterment of all and sundry.
According to him, the lecture will ensure that the bidding processes are not hijacked from the point of advertising projects to the completion stage adding that part of the mandate of NSE was to educate and sensitise the public on the usage of facilities that government provides.
Nkalu also emphasized that the lecture seeks to engender good governance through improved procurement processes as well as choosing the right service providers to handle projects.
He said the public lecture was in honour of the former Director of Bureau of Public Enterprise and past president of the NSE, Engr. Emeka Eze, while Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State would be the special guest of honour.
Deputy Governor of the state Dr. Nkem Okeke is billed to deliver the keynote address while the lecture will be delivered by Engr. Chris Okoye in the glare of the NSE president, Engr. Adekunke Mokuolu, and other dignitaries.
