How Edo’s transparent, open public procurement system is saving cost, driving devt, says Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the transparent, open and technology-based public procurement system being operated in the State has helped the government significantly save monies which is deployed to pursue more developmental projects across the State, ensuring improved livelihoods for the people.

Obaseki said this when he received members of the Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) of Liberia led by the Executive Director, Bodger Scott Johnson, who were on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City.

The team is on an exchange programme visit to Edo to understudy the State’s e-procurement system which has continued to earn global acclaim.

The governor said, “Procurement is at the core of our development. If we fail to procure properly and spend much more than we should on the procurement of goods and services, our development process will be stunted. It's important to us as a people who do not have financial resources to put in place systems and processes to get the most value for the money we are spending on behalf of our people. This is the core of our strategy and motivation to procure properly.

“We started our process over 15 years ago when we obtained our first budget facilities and had to revamp our procurement system as a State. It has been a case of gradual growth ever since.

“We have learnt some lessons along the way and will be able to share some of the lessons with you so that you will be able to avoid such pitfalls or challenges that we have to deal with.”

He continued: “We want to let you know that, politically, it’s difficult but for the technical people on ground, you will want to do things right. There will be political pressure which is one of the biggest challenges you will have to face but if you have the political support, then you are likely to be able to hold your ground.

“Technology will help you progress on e-procurement systems as it makes it easier in our view and better to have a properly structured and designed procurement process that is transparent to you and everybody else.”

Obaseki added, “Procurement helps build trust as we don't take procurement for granted in Edo State.”

Earlier, Bodger Scott Johnson said, “We have come to learn how the e-procurement processes work as we are planning to launch our e-procurement system. We are learning from the Edo State e-procurement team and taking great knowledge back home to impact our own e-procurement process.

“We commend the friendship between Liberia and Nigeria as your Country played a very vital role in restoring peace in Liberia. We are grateful to Nigeria as our big brother and giant of Africa. We are happy because we are in safe hands in Nigeria.”

He noted, “We are here to take back the knowledge learnt here and make our procurement better and less of human contact, making it transparent to ensure credibility.”


PHOTO CAPTION
DSC_01

L-R Executive Director, Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) of Liberia, Bodger Scott Johnson; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.; Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Edo State Procurement Agency, Henry Idogun, during a courtesy visit, at the Government House, in Benin City, recently.

DSC_02

L-R Executive Director, Public Procurement and Concession Commission (PPCC) of Liberia, Bodger Scott Johnson; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.; Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Edo State Procurement Agency, Henry Idogun, during a courtesy visit, at the Government House, in Benin City, recently.

https://www.godwinobaseki.com/News/how-edos-transparent-open-public-procurement-system-is-saving-cost-driving

Making Edo Great Again

When it comes to strategy and revenue generation/management, Governor Obsseki comes to mind.

Governor Obsseki is a man who thinks ahead of time.

*Edo 2024: Ighodalo receives certificate of return, confident of victory*

*_…PDP is one, organised only one legal primary in Edo, says PDP nat’l chair_*

*_…Guber candidate pledges to transform Edo to first world economy_*

Former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc and Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 Edo governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, on Tuesday, received his Certificate of Return as the party’s flag bearer in the election, from the PDP National Working Committee.

The certificate presentation comes after he emerged winner of the governorship primary which took place last week Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The renowned businessman, accomplished lawyer and boardroom guru, in a landslide victory, polled 577 of the 585 accredited votes to clinch the party’s ticket, defeating nine other aspirants including the incumbent deputy governor of the State, Philip Shaibu and Anselm Ojezua, among others.

He was accompanied to receive the certificate by the State’s Party Chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi; former Deputy Governor, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, and Senator Ehigie Uzamere, among others.

Presenting the certificate of return to the Edo PDP guber candidate at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, in Abuja, the Party National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, said the PDP is one and that the party organized and recognized only the primary election which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City and produced Ighodalo as its candidate.

Expressing confidence that the party will emerge victorious in the September governorship election, Amb. Damagum said: “Edo is an easy ride for us. We will emerge victorious. What we should be focused on now is uniting our party and bringing all stakeholders together to ensure we retain our seat at Osadebey Avenue.

“You have to put in your all going forward. I wish to use the opportunity to congratulate our party’s gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and wish you success as you go around the State during your campaign.”

He added, “The PDP is one and we organized and recognized only one primary in Edo which produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo. There are rules and guidelines in line with our party’s Constitution. We set up an electoral committee led by the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal as Chairman, and the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwhori as the committee’s Co-Chairman. They held the primary in a transparent, fair, and credible process which was live on several television stations. To the glory of God that primary election produced Dr. Asue Ighodalo as our party’s candidate.”

In his appreciation speech after receiving the certificate of return, the Edo PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Ighodalo commended all stakeholders of the party for their support, promising to transform Edo State to a first-world economy if elected as governor.

He said, “I thank our party members and leaders as well as other stakeholders of the party, especially the youths, who took me through the length and breadth of Edo State during my consultation to become our party’s candidate. I am extremely proud to be a member of this party. I also appreciate our women for their love and support. They carried me on their back from day one.

“I am grateful for the fairness and transparency of the national leadership of the party. I salute the National Working Committee (NWC) for the transparent and fair manner in which it conducted the primary election in Edo State. The MKO Abiola election of 1993 was the closest to what we recorded at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Thursday, February 22, 2024.”

Ighodalo further noted, “To the youths, it’s our time. By the grace of God and the will of the people of Edo State, we will run a government upheld by youths and with youths. Together, we will turn Edo into a state that everyone will be proud of.

“I will show leadership and direction. Our youths have promised that they won’t fail. We will show the rest of the world what we can achieve together as a people. We can become a first-world sovereign in Africa. I have seen the path and together, with your support and collaboration, we will achieve this.”

Urging for a united front ahead of the September gubernatorial election, Ighodalo stated, “I can’t complete this gratitude without acknowledging my co-aspirants, especially those who stepped down for me from the beginning of this process up to the day of the primary election, particularly Omosede Igbinedion who stepped down for me on the day of the primary.

“The contest is over. Let’s come together as one. We need to work together as one team. We must unite to retain our seat at Osadebey Avenue and drive the progress of our State.”

“I promise that this ticket is for all of us. I will take your advice; we will work together in the interest of our people. You’re all great men and women with varying capabilities and capacities. We will bring these capabilities together to move our State forward,” he added.

*PHOTO CAPTION*

L-R: Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Amb. Umar Ililya Damagum; National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Sam Anyanwu; Governorship candidate of the PDP for the Edo State September 21, 2024 governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, and his wife, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, during the presentation of certificate of return to Ighodalo as flagbearer of the party at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, Tuesday, February 27, 2024.