Ekiti: CSOs Harp on Accountability in Public Procurement

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti 

 In order to ensure transparency and accountability in the process of governance, stakeholders came together in Ekiti state to brainstorm on enlightenment processes to be able to sensitize and educate the citizens on their right in following guidelines for necessary inquiry on government activities to achieve openness for the benefit of the people . 

This was the focus of a workshop organized by the Public and Private Development Centre, PPDC in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital with support from MacArthur Foundation.  

The sensitization program tagged Sub-National Public Procurement Boot Camp was attended by relevant stakeholders in the state which include Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, media, Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP in the state, Ministry of Justice.

 A senior communication officer of the PPDC, Nnenna Eze stated that the purpose of the program was to empower citizens to ensure people get  value for money and  better service delivery.

He said, “At the end of the day, when people know how to actively hold government accountable then they can speak out, that for instance, this school in my community is not working, no tables and desk, structure is not good, toilets are not good, when citizens are aware of the right channels, it empower citizen to be able to hold government accountable.”

Also speaking, a PPDC’s Senior Program Advisor, Ife Olatunji David explained that the project is funded by MacArthur Foundation with the aim of improving transparency and accountability in public procurement sector at sub national level.

“We are implementing this program in Ekiti, Adamawa and Kaduna states, basically to gather all the relevant stakeholders, government, CSO, media, people with disability to ensure transparency, accountability and inclusion  in ensuring public procurement processes are followed, inclusive and accountable.”