Hackathon Workshop : Media ,CSOs Others Renew Advocacy on Public Procurement, Open Contracting

Sola POPOOLA

State and non-state actors converged on Ado-Ekiti the Ekiti State capital for Anti-Corruption Hackathon Workshop organised by Accountability Lab in partnership with United Nations Development Programme(UNDP- Nigeria) ,Open Contracting and the Ekiti Bureau of Public Procurement, through the Nigeria Anti-corruption Innovation.

Project, is building on existing progress to adopt the use of procurement data and innovative technologies to improve access to good quality procurement data that will be used for analysis and monitoring of risks, support informed decision making and create awareness of the various projects the government is embarking on in Ekiti State. Journalists and Civil Society will be educated on Contracting Process from budget till implementation.

The project team has had successful outings in Plateau and Edo state. The workshop and training was declared open by the UNDP Representative Adewole Oke (Social Innovator-SDG 16 with UNDP Nigeria).

The Project Officer, Shiiwa Mnenga said the project: Anti Corruption Innovation Project in Public Procurement is a deliberate initiative of Accountability Lab Nigeria in partnership with the Open Contracting Partnership to bring about a improvement in public procurement of Edo, Plateau and Ekiti states.

Mnenga added that the essence is to check corruption and impunity by leaders and allow the running of all -inclusive governance that will benefit all Nigerian citizens .

“Available data indicated that Edo State remains a leading state in Nigeria in open contracting and procurement policy. Plateau state has a huge compliance with the policies , with Ekiti not doing badly. They are the three leading states that had domesticated the laws and doing well in implementation.

“We are using these three states as pilots and engaging in training of partners, so that we can come up with technical solutions to addressing existing gaps in public procurement in these three States and others”.

He stated that the essence is to ensure that there is greater transparency in the contracting business of government and to ensure that data generated through the process is made accessible to the public with a view to increase value for money, timely delivery of quality projects and services as well as building trust among citizens.

Speaking on ‘Improving Accountability in Public Procurement’,a consultant with an Abuja based NGO, Public Private Development Centre (PPDC), Mr. Onyekachi Chukwu, said: “Public procurement is one of the most important aspect of governance. It is involved in everything government does and that was why each state has a Bureau of Public Procurement to vet whatever purchase government is making to check corruption.

“The bureau participate in contract awards, but the public has not been paying attention to the operations of this office. The citizens have failed to engage this office to ensure that accurate data on contracts are made public in line with Open Contracting Data Standard .

“The public is not well informed about the usefulness of access to data about contracts and procurement. A strict and compliant public procurement must pass through the stages of planning, tender, award, contract and implementation”.

Speaking about the significance of the procurement and FOI Acts, Chukwu said; “They are used to monitor projects and hold government to account. These laws have enabled reforms in public procurement such as the adoption of Open Contracting and e-procurement.

“They have enabled citizens enter into informed dialogue

about decisions which affect their lives. They have empowered citizens including vulnerable and excluded people, to demand their rights and entitlements.

“It has enabled Journalists and the Press to do factual reporting, eliminating a culture of rumour and conspiracy; and encouraging investigative journalism that can help the public in holding our leaders accountable”.

Highlight of the workshop was an interface between participants and Ekiti State Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), where the BPP enlightened participants on its activities, including gender mainstreaming in public procurement in Ekiti State.

The Accountability Lab Nigeria is a part of the global network of labs that makes governance work for citizens by supporting active citizens, responsible leaders, and accountable institutions across the country and working with them to unleash positive social and economic change.

We have built a network of young people through our programmes who understand the need for open governance and inclusion.

AL Nigeria has a track record of creating engaging campaigns and leveraging existing partnerships to develop activities aimed at reaching those who are not normally included in governance conversations through unlikely networks.

This hackathon engagement is premised on Improving government procurement data including public access: Developing tech ideas for public procurement processes to improve paper-based systems, improper contracting procedures, unclear regulations, and poor efficiency in tracking public contracts.

And catalyzing the use of procurement data for advocacy, monitoring, and feedback mechanisms: Implementing open contracting under the watchful eye of citizen and CSO engagement, presents Nigerian states with the opportunity to address loopholes within procurement processes, improve service delivery, and attain greater levels of transparency around spending, e.g. develop story sprints.

The workshop drew participants from the Media, Civil Society Organisations, Nigeria Bar Association, Techprenuers, Innovators and Public Sectors.

Source: GlobalHotlinenews

Was this article helpful?

YesNo

Last modified: December 9, 2022