Category: News

You are the Future of the Civil Service – HOS Ogundele

The Ondo State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele, has charged the newly recruited Procurement Officers in the Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement (ODBPP) that they are the future of the civil service because people like him are on the way out of the system. And, in view of that, they need to work hard, learn and bring new innovations to the system.

The Head of Service made the remarks on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 when he welcomed the new staff during the induction and training programme organized by the ODBPP. He advised the young intakes that running abroad may not be the answer they need to better their lives because not all that glitters is gold. He said those who have remained in the country overtime are not exactly worse off than those abroad because they are comfortable.

Pastor Ogundele, who is also the Chairman, Establishment Committee of the Ondo State Board on Public Procurement, the apex decision-making body of public procurement in Ondo State, admonished them that, no matter how difficult the Nigerian situation is, there is always a way out through effective and efficient hard work. He said their own destiny is in their own hands based on how they handle the assignments they are given. He congratulated the new staff for scaling through the selection process and declared that he hopes to see them at the top.

Earlier, the Director General of ODBPP, Mr Tolu Fadahunsi, while welcoming the staff to the programme had counselled the new procurement officers to show grit and determination to rise to the top. He said the training in public procurement is a marathon race because it is a continuous process because, even after the induction programme, on-the-job training continues. He said that the possibilities before the new staff are limitless and they should see themselves as professionals that are uniquely important to the success of the Ondo State Government.

Earlier in the year, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, on recommendation of the Board on Public Procurement, had approved the recruitment of 18 new staff. Well over 1,000 candidates applied for the advertised positions. An aptitude test was conducted on Saturday, June 17, 2023 for applicants who were shortlisted while successful candidates underwent an interview on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

The month-long induction and training programme will cover the rudimentary of public procurement captured under the purview of the Ondo State Procurement Law, 2017 and general-purpose topics like the civil service regulations and financial regulations.

A ONE DAY SENTIZATION AND ADVOCACY MEETING ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT FACILITATED BY ONDO STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE COMMISSION

1.0. It is my great delight to be one of the participants at this one-day sensitization on Public Procurement which is being organized by the Ondo State Local Government Service Commission. It is appropriate to remark that this is event is epochal because this is the first noticeable intervention from the Local government service Commission to sensitive its work force and the general public on the importance of the principles of public procurement. This is a laudable initiative for which the organizer deserves a commendation and a round of applause. I will like to thank the organizers for inviting me as a Guest lecturer, I am indeed humbled by the invitation to be the guest lecturer at a very unique event of this kind. I am humbled by the invitation because there are more competent, more versatile, more knowledgeable individuals within the State to act in this capacity and for this kindly accept my gratitude.

2.0. In recent time, discussions on the principles of Public Procurement had occupied a massive space in public discuss and as major stake holders, its important that we acquaint ourselves with the nitty gritty of the concept. To buttress this assertion, I am reliably informed that the Chartered Institute of Accountants of Nigeria has earmarked a session to discuss Public Procurement at its next Annual Conference scheduled to hold in October 2022.

4.0. The rising intensity in discussing Public Procurement is accentuated by the following factors;

1. The prevalent global economic recession triggered by the COVID 19 Pandemic and the Russia- Ukraine war which is having debilitating effect on revenue. The ongoing war is creating huge distortions in economic activities apart from loss of lives.
2. The insistence on the implementation of the World Bank Public Sector Reform Agenda dubbed the SFTAS has catalyzed discussions on global best practices in public procurement.
3. The overarching need to control cost of governance has propelled discussions in public procurement to the front burner. While Revenues of both national and sub nationals (local governments) inclusive are declining, expenditure aided by inflation has spiraled beyond control creating financial disequilibrium.

5.0. The question therefore is what is the way forward? One can perfunctorily suggest that the immediate solution is to rev up internally generated revenue by increasing tax rates coupled with stringent enforcement.  It is submitted that this prescription apart from being fraught with several misgivings as well as debatable One school of thought argued in favor of financing deficit by raising taxes in the high-income bracket (Obamanomics) while some argued in favor of reduction for the upper income earners as a way of reinflating the economy (Reganomics). However, one indisputable solution either to reduce deficit in government finance or ensure prudent spending of public funds,  applicable at all times is rejigging the public finance architecture. Rejigging the Public finance architecture will entail the interrogations of issues of probity, accountability, value for money, transparency in public spendings.

The import of this is that all public expenditure must pass the litmus test of transparency, probity accountability, fairness, value for money, competitiveness and all other ingredients of global best practices and local legislations. This is what is generally referred to as DUE PROCESS in public finance or Public Procurement.

6.0.      What is due process?

• Due process is a requirement which emphasizes that all procurements in the public sector must be resolved or accomplished in accordance with established rules and principles and that all stakeholders be treated fairly and equitably.
• Due process is a legal principle designed to protect the rights of citizens to fair treatment. The import of this statement is that all prospective vendors shall be given equal opportunity.
• Is the requirement that connotes that established laws and standards of behavior must be followed during any official act on the part of the State to ensure that individual rights and interests are not infringed.
• Due process in public procurement stipulates that tax payers fund or public fund must be expended in accordance with the provisions of the law, legally established procedures and regulations that conform with global best practices.

7.0.   Characteristics of Due Process.

1. • Open
   • Competitive
   • Fairness
   • Value for money.
   • Transparency
   • Accountability

 8.0.     OBJECTIVES OF DUE PROCESS

• To strictly enforce the Due Process principles of transparency, competition, efficiency and value-for money in the execution of contracts for supplies, works and services in the State as set out in the Procurement Manual and in accordance with its enabling Law;
• To ensure that project packaging and implementation match the defined priorities and targets as set out in annual appropriation laws of the State;
• To prevent extra budgetary spending by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State by ensuring that only projects contained in the Approved Budget or supported by appropriate financial Warrants are executed;
• Emplace a mechanism for ensuring cost of governance is nationally competitive.

9.0.  WHAT IS PROCUREMENT?

• It is the process of identifying, shortlisting, selecting and acquiring of required goods, services, and works from third party in the right quantity and quality through direct purchase, competitive bidding or tendering process while ensuring timely delivery.
• It is the strategic sourcing of works, goods, services required by an organization to accomplish or achieve its business model, corporate or social objectives.
• Long range plan to ensure timely supply of goods and services that are critical to an organization and its capacity to meet its core objectives.
• Inter-Connectivity Between Due Process and Public Procurement?
• It is a mechanism that focuses on ensuring that buying or purchasing process in the public service is conducted in a fair and just manner.
• It is a process that certifies that public expenditure has been executed in accordance with the established procedures and principles that satisfies global best practises
• In Ondo State, it implies that public funds have been dispensed in the acquisition of goods, works and services in accordance with the provisions of the Ondo State Public Procurement law 2017, and in tandem with global best practices.

 10.0   STEPS IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT 

1. NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
2. PROCUREMENT PLANING.
3. BUDGETARY APPROVAL.
4. METHODS OF PROCUREMENT.
5. GOVERNORS APPROVAL TO COMMENCE THE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE.
6. BENCHMARK PRICE
7. MINISTERIAL TENDERS’ BOARD
8. BPP CERTIFICATE OF NO OBJECTION
9. CONTRACT AWARD
10. PROJECT COMPLETION & CERTIFICATION.

 11.0.  HISTORY OF PUBLIC PROCURENT IN NIGERIA

Strictly speaking, public procurement has largely been a public sector activity in Africa. From a back room administrative function, it is however now assumed a new dimension and currently being recognized as a major multi-stakeholder public function, with huge ramifications on public service delivery and therefore on economic and social development. Nigeria is one of the African countries with a new legal framework for public procurement meeting the benchmarks prescribed by the World Bank and multi-lateral agencies. Procurement reforms in Nigeria have been part of the broader public sector reform effort, seeking to improve government effectiveness in service delivery.

In 1999, there was a clear understanding by the government that weaknesses in the existing procurement system were contributing to the nagging issue of corruption. In the last two decades or so, a good number of African Governments have implemented public procurement Reforms aimed at strengthening their public procurement systems e.g. Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Zambia, Lesotho, Nigeria. They all agreed that these governments have obviously realized that sound public procurement policies and practices are among the essential elements of good governance and that good procurement practices reduce costs and produce timely results whereas poor practices lead to waste and delays and often lead to allegations of corruption and government inefficiency.

In 1999, Nigeria transited to a democratic government under President Olusegun Obasanjo after over a decade and a half of military dictatorship. The governance structures inherited by the new administration then, naturally had all the traditional drawbacks of dictatorship, especially with regard to the lack of accountability to the citizenry and general arbitrariness in governance. Specifically, the federal government of Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo alerted the nation to the serious and catastrophic danger that characterized public contract processes. He also alerted on the World Bank Country Procurement Assessment Report (CPAR) which revealed that Nigeria was losing an average of $10 Billion (Ten Billion United states dollars) annually due to various abuses associated with public procurement and contract awards. I Fact checked confirmed that for every #100 of public expenditure #70 went into private pocket!  A major initiative initially designed to respond to this challenge was the setting up of Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligent Unit (BMPIU) at the presidency.

The BMPIU was a stop-gap due process measure aimed at due diligence in government procurements and awards so as to facilitate fair deals for the government through price monitoring. However, the challenge with the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU) stop-gap measure include absence of legal framework; inability to reduce corrupt practices as a result of collusion by public officials and the lack of clear role definitions and delineation for proper public procurement practices in line with global best practices so as to adequately ensure transparency, probity, accountability and openness.

In recent years, several reforms had been initiated on virtually every aspect of public service delivery such as the Due Process Certification Policy in 2002, the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) in 2004, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (Establishment,  Act  the2005 whose goal is to regulate, monitor and supervise the contracts on infrastructure or development projects; the ‘Service Compact with All Nigerians’ (SERVICOM) which committed the civil service to providing quality basic services to all citizens “in a timely, fair, honest, effective and transparent manner” (Federal Government of Nigeria, 2004). International development partners and other multilateral agency have invested valuable time and resources in order to assist in deepening public procurement practices across all the 36 states and 774 local government in line with the federal nature of Nigeria nation. The World Bank through the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs’) has embarked on advocacy initiatives in order to achieve this objective. State governors were visited while key local government stakeholders were also encouraged to consider passage of public procurement laws in their respective jurisdiction.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Capacity building by way of training and retraining of procurement offers or personnel of procuring entities.
2. Ensure that all government agencies or institutions are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring sound public procurement practices.
3. Strict adherence to the legal framework for regulations of public procurement -Ondo State Public Procurement Law 2017.
4. Ensue transparency, competitiveness and fairness in the award of government contract.
5. The State government should also ensure that state organs promptly approve and release funds to avoid undue stress on procurement process.
6. There should be proper database for proper record keeping and documentation in the ODBPP and in all the government MDAs in the State.
7. There is need to set up the National Council on public procurement to reduce the level of political interference with public procurement. 8. There should full implementation of Public Procurement Act 2017.
8. Institutionalize international global practices.

THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING

Tolu Fadahunsi

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF ONDO STATE BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, MR TOLU FADAHUNSI, DURING THE FAMILIARIZATION VISIT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TENDERS/PROCUREMENT ON THE 21ST SEPTEMBER, 2021

SFTAS Training at Owo

Procurement Plan Training at Mydas Hotel

Inauguration of ODBPP Board – Governor’s Speech and Photos

A SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY ARAKURIN OLUWAROTIMI ODUNAYO AKEREDOLU (SAN), THE GOVERNOR OF ONDO STATE AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE ONDO STATE BOARD ON PUBLIC PROCUMENT ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2020.

Protocols

I welcome you formally to the inauguration ceremony of the Ondo State Board on Public Procurement. It is important to recall that this administration, on assumption of office, as a demonstration of its commitment to embrace governance reforms took a bold step by signing into Laws four different governance reform-focused Bills namely: the Fiscal Responsibility Law, the Public Finance Management Law, Audit Law and the Public Procurement Law.

On behalf of the government and the good people of Ondo State, I wish to place on record our gratitude to the Speaker of the House, the Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyeloogun; the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji and the entire members of the State Assembly who worked tirelessly to ensure the timely passage of these Bills.

Today’s event is epochal because it represents one of the stepping stones towards the domestication of global best practices in public procurement by Ondo State Government. Permit me to emphasize that, in every clime where global best practices have been institutionalized as a critical element of governance reforms, the citizens have always been the ultimate beneficiary. In terms of institutionalizing governance reforms, I am proud to announce that, going by the current rating of the international development partners/bilateral institutions, Ondo State ranks amongst the best three in the whole Federation.

The importance of this epoch-making occasion cannot be over-emphasized in view of the incontrovertible fact that the Public Procurement Law will change and revolutionize the way we have always gone about our contract management process. I am sure that you have heard that only fools do things the same way all the times and expect different results. On the strength of this, it is now imperative that, in Ondo State, we must continue to think anew and act anew.

Given our commitment to fully implement the procurement reforms and the calibre of men we have assembled to spearhead our procurement reforms, I am optimistic that, in no distant future, Ondo State will top the table. I have implicit confidence in the quality and capacity of in-coming members of the Board to deliver on their mandate.

May I passionately ask for the support and cooperation of all and sundry in our various establishments to make this reform work. As I said during the SIFMIS inauguration, those who find the reforms too innovative for their comfort can seek alternatives elsewhere.

The fact that we decided to inaugurate the Procurement Board at this critical period, when the Covid-19 famously known as the Coronavirus pandemic is ravaging the entire world, without compromising any safety protocols attests to this administration’s commitment to governance. It is pertinent to add that in fulfillment of our constitutional roles and oath of office to protect and preserve the lives and properties of the citizens, this government has been demonstrating its capacity and commitment to contain the virus.

I seize the opportunity of this occasion to express, on behalf of the government and people of Ondo State, my profound gratitude to all the health workers, who are battling the virus from the frontlines, working assiduously, selflessly and at greater risks to their personal safety. Please, rest assured that your labour of love will not be in vain.

To all and sundry, I must reiterate that, the responsibility to flatten the curve of the pandemic is not the exclusive preserve of the government and health workers only because Covid-19 requires the concerted efforts of all of us. We must religiously observe, imbibe and implement all the safety protocols, which are being propagated through the traditional and new media by authorized handles. These protocols include social distancing, regular hand washing, wearing of face masks, timely notification of appropriate authorities in case of any symptomatic individuals, enforcing the interstate lockdown etc.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, by the power conferred on me as the Executive Governor of Ondo State I hereby inaugurate the Ondo State Board on Public Procurement with members as follows:

1. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN: Chairman
2. Mr Tolu Fadahunsi: Director-General, Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement - Member
   Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan: Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget - Member

4. Mr Adekola Olawoye, SAN: Attorney-General and Hon. Commissioner for Justice - Member

5. Mr Ifedayo Abegunde: Secretary to the State Government – Member

6. Mr Oluwadare Aragbaiye: Head of Service - Member
7. Mr Adewale Akinterinwa: Commissioner for Finance – Member

8. Otito Atikase: Chairman representing 18 Local Government Chairmen - Member

9. Benjamin Idowu: - Member, representing Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supplies (CIPS)

10. Builder Dele Akinyan: Member, representing construction-related bodies

11. Mr Abayomi Ojo Michael: Member, representing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

12. Pharm. Samuel Adekola: Member, representing Pharmaceutical Society  of Nigeria (PSN)

13. Sir David Ologun: Member, representing Accounting-related bodies

14. Prof Ayo Arowojolu: Member, representing Tertiary Institutions
15. Pastor Ifeanyi Odili: Member, representing Civil Society Organizations

 

Congratulations and Best wishes.

 

Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN
Governor of Ondo State
August 25, 2021

Photos

ODBPP TRAINS SMEs ON COVID-19 AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES

ODBPP TRAINS SMEs ON COVID-19 AND OTHER EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES

Earlier this year the World Bank initiated moves to help cushion the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. This led to the synchronizing of the review of budgets to reflect priorities while reducing luxuries to the barest minimum in all 36 States of the federation. A major aspect of the reviewed budgets was to cater for projects that could be handled by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in view of the fact that they were the hardest hit during the pandemic. The deadline for the review of the budget was June 30, 2020. Ondo State was one of the States that made the cut.
This success led to the next stage which included other components including tax and public procurement. The aim was to churn out guidelines and policies that will ease contract award process and reduce the stringent conditions such that the SMEs, the incontrovertible largest contributors to and drivers of the economy will not remain comatose and, by extension, the economy will be active and bullish.
To surmount this task, which also had a deadline of September 30, 2020; the Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement (ODBPP) organized a 2-pronged training programme for over 150 SMEs at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) Hall on 23rd – 24th and 28th – 29th September, 2020.
To accomplish the all-important task, the Governor of Ondo State Arakunrin Oluwarotimi, SAN, had magnanimously approved the release of funds for the training programme. This enabled the Bureau to engage a consultant, Colt System Consulting, to develop 3 holistic documents for use from the Training to implementation of the procurement processes. These are:

• Ondo State Public Procurement Guide for SMEs and Bidders.
• Emergency Guidelines for the Procurement of Goods, Works and Services by Procuring Entities in Ondo State for Covid-19 and Other Emergency Situations.
• The SME Guidelines For Public Procurement in Ondo State.

In addition, the consultants were to also facilitate the Training of the SMEs.
The Training was declared open by the Director General of the Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Tolu Fadahunsi, who charged the participants to pay attention and take maximum use of the privilege availed by the Training, considering that all SMEs could not have been invited. He charged that the Training had nothing to do with politics but purely economy because the planners of the Training had correctly envisaged that SMEs, unlike large-scale enterprises, did not have the internal mechanisms and shock absorbers to cope with the devastating effects of the pandemic and, as such, the Training was organized for SMEs to cushion the impact of Covid-19 on their businesses. He added that the World Bank and the State Government were also interested in the participation of SMEs in public procurement and thus created this special window for them to participate in bidding for government contracts.
Resource persons included Dr J.K Naiyeju, Dr Yomi Adetula, Mr Akintunde Omomofe and Mr Kayode Ajomole. Topics fielded included:

•  Public Procurement and SMEs Development in Nigeria/Ondo State
•  SMEs Development: Re-Inventing Business Model Through Innovation and Information Technology.
•  Overview of Public Procurement in Ondo State.
•  SME Guidelines for Public Procurement in Ondo State.

The participants had the privilege to ask various questions that bothered them and also for clarity. The organizers provided lecture materials, lunch, certificates of participation and transportation stipend to all the participants while assuring them of due consideration and level ground when the Ondo State Government rolls out the projects.
The participants confessed that they had been able to acquire knowledge on how to access public procurement opportunities and government contract.
Covid-19 protocols were observed throughout the Training programmes.

Arakunrin Akeredolu Nominates Procurement Board

1. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN- Chairman
2. Mr. Tolu Fadahunsi- Director General, Ondo State Bureau of Public Procurement
3. Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan- Hon Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget
4. Mr. Adekola Olawoye, SAN- Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice
5. Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde- Secretary to the State Government
6. Mr. Oluwadare Aragbaye- Head of Service
7. Mr. Adewale Akinterinwa- Hon Commissioner for Finance
8. Pharm. Samuel Adekola- Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
9. Bldr. Dele Akinyan, NIOB Chairman- The Nigerian Institute of Building
10. Ojo Abayomi Michael Esq. – Nigerian Bar Association
11. Sir. Ologun, David Olorunfunmi, FCA- The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
12. Ifeanyi Odili- Coalition of all Civil Society Organisations in Ondo State
13. Benjamin Igbekele Idowu-  Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria
14. Professor Ayo Arowojolu- Tertiary Institutions
15. Hon Otito Atikase- LG Chairman, representing the 18 LG Chairmen.