WorldStage– Dr Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General, Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), has charged state governments to ensure effective utilisation of available resources to ease pressure on the Federal Government.
Adedokun made the call on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Delta Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, at Government House, Asaba.
He highlighted the critical link between effective local governance and national stability, noting that when states prudently managed their resources, it relieved pressure on the central government, allowing sharper focus on critical national issues like defence.
He said “if the states function well, the Federal Government can then focus on responsibilities on the exclusive legislative list such as defence, national security, foreign affairs and national policy formulation.”
He added that President Bola Tinubu had directed the bureau to strengthen collaboration with all thirty-six states and, indeed, with local government areas across the country.
“This is because we are all working with common resources, and through collaboration, we can ensure the successful delivery of the Renewed Hope Agenda to the Nigerian people.”
He, however, lauded the Delta government for its unprecedented openness and commitment to transparency, describing it as a trailblazer in sub-national accountability.
Adedokun emphasised that Delta stood out as a progressive partner in the fight against corruption by willingly subjecting its processes to external evaluation.
“Delta state should be acknowledged as one of those states that has opened its doors for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct peer reviews.
“This level of receptiveness is a testament to the administration’s confidence in its governance structures and its willingness to align with global best practices in public accountability.
“Your Excellency, I would thank God for giving us the opportunity to come to Delta and share our experiences.
“We are here to discuss how government procurement is being carried out at the federal level and to learn from the efforts being made in Delta.
“We also look forward to reviewing the progress that has been made in budget implementation and project execution.”
He assured that the bureau would work with sub-national governments to ensure best practices in public procurement.
“I am delighted to be here today with my colleagues. We have come, first, to commend you for the good work being done in Delta.
“We assure you that at the federal level, we are committed to continuous engagement with sub-national governments as our goal is to share best practices that can improve our systems and address any anomalies we may encounter, particularly in the implementation of capital projects.
“We are also here to extend a hand of fellowship to our colleagues at the state level. We simply want to express our appreciation for the opportunity given to us by the Delta government to visit and engage in this peer review exercise,” Adedokun said.
The BPP boss said that Mr President directed the agency to ensure stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments.
“He (President) said, if states function well in the utilisation of their monthly allocations, then the Federal Government will have less work to do.
“It is, therefore, the President’s desire that we work together with our partners, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to ensure that development is effectively delivered at the state level.
“The President is very passionate about this objective, and that is why we are here this morning,” Adedokun said.
Responding, Onyeme, thanked the BPP and ICPC for coming to the state to see how the state handled its procurement duties and to guide it on how to further strengthen all areas that needed improvement to ensure more value for its resources.
“We are particularly very happy with you and I want to assure you that the Delta government is wholly willing to partner with both the BPP and the ICPC to ensure better governance; we will collaborate with you.
“This government is a government that believes in value for money; it is a government that believes in the quality of jobs done.
“If you have been following us, you will have seen on several occasions where the governor himself goes out to the field to look at the projects that are being executed, and their quality.
“We do not tolerate shabby jobs here, and I am sure that the two-day discussion you have with us will further strengthen us to make us better,” Onyeme said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the BPP and ICPC were in Delta to deliver lectures at a 2-Day Procurement Enlightenment Workshop for Top Government officials, organised by the Delta State Public Procurement Commission
