The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has conducted a three-day training aimed at strengthening the integrity of public procurement processes.
The training, which was held in Makurdi from Tuesday to Thursday, was attended by accounts, audit, procurement, and technical officers of the Board, whose roles are crucial to the efficiency of the public procurement system.
Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba, emphasized Governor Alia’s commitment to ensuring that the system works effectively by following due process in contract awards and execution.
She said, “This training was organized to enhance the already existing knowledge of staff. Even though we have capable hands at SUBEB, learning is a continuous process, and no knowledge is wasted.”
She further highlighted that the training was the first of its kind since the establishment of the Board, adding that it was expected to foster a seamless process in contract and procurement execution in the basic education sector through enhanced synergy with regulatory agencies.
In a keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Rev. Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, described public procurement as a cornerstone of administration, directly impacting the quality of services the government delivers, including essential services such as education and infrastructure.
He stressed the importance of the training, given the intense scrutiny the public procurement process in Nigeria has faced due to instances of mismanagement and corruption.
Facilitators for the training were drawn from the EFCC, ICPC, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and UBEC. Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner of ICPC, Atiku Menge, emphasized the need for government officials to promote fairness and transparency, ensuring that contracts provide value for money and fulfill their purpose.
Barr. Iorngee Solomon of the ICPC said that whistleblower protection is crucial to uncovering fraudulent activities and promoting a culture of honesty for the effective and efficient use of public resources.
EFCC Zonal Director of the Makurdi Directorate, Anslem Ozioko, and the representative of the BPP, Sa’eed Dantala Umar, reiterated the criminality of bypassing due process in procurement and contract awards. Stephanie Phillips, also presenting at the training, urged government agencies to mitigate cyber threats by securing financial data and adhering to relevant regulations.
Ogbunkwu James of the EFCC called for transparency and accountability in contract execution to foster meaningful development.
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The event saw participation from various partners, including representatives of the Benue Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, who expressed solidarity in improving the procurement process in the state.
In his vote of thanks, Board Secretary Dr. Joseph Jande commended the resource persons for their dedication to exposing the Board staff to current procurement and contract ethics. Participants, including Director of Legal Services SUBEB Stephanie Manyam and Procurement Officer Terkimbir Dyegh, appreciated the Board’s management for organizing such a valuable training to prepare staff for effective engagement in contract activities.
