ACAN played host to Management Staff of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, in a capacity building engagement titled: ANTI-CORRUPTION REQUIREMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT. The programme which held from 29-30 August 2023 at the Fraser Suites in Abuja, was at the instance of the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote.
In his remarks at the event, Engr. Wabote stated that, the NCDMB is a federal government agency under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR). It was created under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010.
He disclosed that the two-day engagement was designed create a platform for ICPC, through its research and learning arm, the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) to provide guidance to NCDMB management on some of the corruption red flags and anti-corruption measures in public procurement, and to highlight some of the best practices in contracting and other Board related transactions, so that they meet the expectation of ICPC and other law enforcement agencies. He noted that, the workshop will further assist NCDMB management to recognize and appreciate basic loopholes in public service activities which are otherwise taken for granted.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who was represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Prof. Musa Usman Abubakar, stated that it was gratifying to see an agency of government making good effort to build capacity towards entrenching integrity in the workplace. He pointed out that a deeper understanding of integrity issues and best practices in public procurement was fundamental to the work of the NCDMB, being a regulatory agency. He therefore, encouraged participants to take the training seriously, as it would not only broaden their knowledge base on best practices in procurement, but also provide them with skills for identifying corruption red-flags and addressing them effectively. He commended the leadership of the NCDMB for organizing the meeting with a view to preventing corruption in the workplace.
Also speaking, the Director Legal Services at the NCDMB, Mohammed B. Umar. Esq. disclosed that the workshop was first conceptualized about a year ago following some investigations being conducted by the ICPC on some contractors who had executed some projects for NCDMB’s contractors. He reiterated that the Board had felt it necessary for the two organizations to have a platform for ICPC, through its research and training arm, the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN) to provide guidance to the NCDMB management on some of the corruption red flags in public procurement and to highlight some of the best practices in contracting and other Board related transactions, so that they meet the expectation of ICPC and other law enforcement agencies.
He disclosed that, the topic of the workshop- ANTI-CORRUPTION REQUIREMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES IN CONTRACTING AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROCESSES was selected to serve as a road map on areas to be focused on during the engagement with the Academy. He pointed out that the NCDMB is interested in getting it right and operating within the ambit of the law; adding that the workshop would enhances what was being done in-house by the Procurement Division or NCDMB ACTU.
He disclosed that in the past, the NCDMB as part of her mandate, had organized workshops for all law enforcement agencies to create awareness and provide insight into the activities of NCDMB as well as the philosophy and the imperative Nigeria’s local content agenda. He expressed hope for more of such workshop to be held in the near future.
Officials of organisations, such as the Ministry of Justice among others, which are key stakeholders of the NCDMB also participated in the engagement.