BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has warned that “violators of the Edo State Public Procurement law, which entails the utilization of tax-payers, money, will be prosecuted and if found guilty, will be sent to jail.”
He handed the warning at the opening of the Edo State Public Procurement Conference 2015 in Benin City yesterday where he explained that “the breach of the law is not a breach of the governor.”
According to the Governor, the procurement law is applicable to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and even the local governments, pointing out, that the local governments must pass through the process of the procurement law.
Governor Oshiomhole, who narrated how political office holders award contract to themselves using impostors as foreign expatriates or partners, said “the law is to ensure that such practice is made difficult and infact is to make it impossible,” pointing out that at the end of the day when the politician gets the contract “the job is not done and payment is made”.
On the appointment into the procurement agency, Governor Oshiomhole said it should be on the basis of merit and competence.
While saying the whole exercise is aimed at taking Edo State to the next level, he urged participants to take active part in the conference.
Three papers were delivered at the conference including the lead paper entitled “Public Procurement An Imperative for Good governance And Sustainable Development: Implementation Challenges And Lessons,” delivered by the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency, Engr. Akinkunmi Onimole and it also featured questions and answers section.
The conference is also to be held at Irrua in Edo Central Senatorial District and at Jattu-Uzairue in Edo North Senatorial District on October 29th and November 5, 2015 respectively.
CONFERENCE: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right) presents a souvenir to Mr. Akinkumi Onimole, General Manager, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (left) with them is Chief Tom Uloko, former Chairman, Edo Public Procurement Agency at the Agency’s Conference in Benin City yesterday.
