Public Procurement: APPON calls for accelerated legislation on practitioner’s council
Stakeholders in the procurement industry under the aegis of the Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPON) has called on all the practitioners in the industry, leaders in the public and civil services, the National Assembly and relevant stakeholders to support the ongoing Legislation efforts for the establishment of Procurement Practitioners Council/Association of Nigeria
The group stated that they are committed to regulating Public Procurement Practice as a Professional body in Nigeria in line with global best practices.
The Association made the call on Thursday through her National President, Emem Kanico during their Executive Dinner/Interactive Session and inauguration of its Advisory Committee at Obafemi Awolowo Hall, Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja
The President stated that the objective of the Association includes to maintain and unequal practitioners in the Procurement practice; promote, stimulate and sustain national development through best practices; uphold and sustain ethical standards and values in the practice of public procurement nationwide in line with the international best practices.
The National President added that the objectives of the Association among others are being pursued in collaboration with government regulatory bodies established by the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
Mr Emem Kanico observed that the Association though recently established has performed creditably in the period under review and hopes to operate at the space of other professional Associations.
The National President used the occasion to appreciate the National Executive Committee of the body for working to transform the Association as well as the stakeholders’ supports received from all and sundry.
Mr Kanico maintained that the Association is committed to organizing routine professional trainings for her members in addition to her Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Critical stakeholders and Fellows of the Association who offered goodwill Messages at the event includes the Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Finance, Ruqyyat Adekunle, the Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr Oke Segun, the Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Welfare, Alhaji Bello Alkali Usman and Agbe Ulusanya Imafidon Director Procurement, Federal Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry who all congratulated the leadership of the professional Association for championing the enthronement of best practices in the procurement practices.
They called for further training, networking with international partners in the industry and advocated for the inclusion of the Procurement Audit Arm of the Profession.
A three member Executive of the Advisory Committee of the Association were appointed and inaugurated at the occasion to offer advisory and consultative services to the National Executive Committee of the Association on emerging trend especially as the Association evolves to compete with other professional Associations in the country.
Introducing the Advisory Committee members, the Director Strategy, Standards and Compliance of the Association, Mr. Adigwe Emma EBUBE, remarked that the carefully selected members of the Advisory committee, who are very senior fellows of the Association, are experienced, seasoned and among the pioneer Directors of Public Procurement in the mainstream of the Federal Civil Service, with outstanding commitment to the development of procurement practice in Nigeria.
The Director Strategy, Standards and Compliance maintained that the Committee is to provide policy direction for the Professional Body in the regulation and maintanance of standards of procurement practice in the country.
The Director added that the Association is in collaboration with relevant Government Agencies in ensuring that Procurement Practice is professionalised, embedded in academic curriculum of higher institutions of learning and in advocacy for the domestication of Public Procurement Act, 2007 by various State Government.
Mr. Adigwe Ebube further added that APPON is in a mission to promote transparency and accountability in Governance and called on state governments to enact similar legislation to establish State Bureau of Public Procurement as the Association is willing to assist the state governments with professional base.
Thereafter, three members of the Advisory Committee of the Association, to serve as the Executive members of the Committee were appointed and inaugurated at the occasion.
The Advisory Committee is to offer advisory and consultative services to the National Executive Committee of the Association on emerging trend especially as the Association evolves to compete with other professional Associations in the country.
Members of the Committee includes the Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Finance, Ruqyyat Adekunle, to serve as the Chairperson of the Committee, with Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Mr Oke Segun as well as the Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Welfare, Alhaji Bello Alkali Usman, as CoChairmen.
The Association Director of Strategy, Standards & Compliance, Adigwe Emmanuel Ebube is to serve as Secretary to the Committee.
The Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Finance, Ruqyyat Adekunle who spoke on behalf of the newly appointed and inaugurated Advisory Committee expressed the appreciation of appointees and pledged to add the much needed value to the Professional Association.
The event was organised under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. Sonny Echono, the Chairman, House Committee on public procurement, Hon. Nasir Ali Ahmed as Special Guest of Honour, with Federal Directors of Public Procurement who were all awarded and decorated at the occasion along with the Advisory Committee members. All the National Executive Committee members of the Association were in attendance
The event featured presentation of the Association’s projects, goodwill messages and interactive sessions.
