The USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness Activity (State2State) recently organised a three-day workshop in Gombe to support Civil Society Organisations in strengthening procurement oversight.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the training aimed to enhance CSOs’ capacity to monitor public procurement effectively, promote transparency and accountability, and foster collaboration with government entities.
The workshop brought together representatives from CSOs, government agencies, and priority sector MDAs, including the Bureau for Public Procurement, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, and Ministries Departments, and Agencies from the health, education, and WASH sectors.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions, group work, and plenary discussions to develop an inclusive Procurement Oversight Plan and action plan for implementation.
In his opening remarks, the State Team Lead, Muhammad Abubakar, emphasised the critical role of public procurement in government operations and the need for robust mechanisms to monitor and evaluate procurement processes.
He noted that transparent and effective public procurement is essential for ensuring value for money, fostering trust, accountability, and integrity in government processes.
The Citizen Engagement and Capacity Building Consultant, Emmanuel Bala-Bwala, made a presentation on the role of key stakeholders in procurement, including government agencies, contractors, and civil society. He stressed the importance of identifying key stakeholders and their roles in the procurement process.
The Public Finance Management Specialist, Oluwatosin Oke, introduced the procurement process and emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement and mapping exercises. Participants worked together to review annual procurement plans developed by MDAs and developed an inclusive Oversight Plan that CSOs will use to monitor procurement processes.
Expected outcomes from the workshop include:
– Improved capacity of CSOs to monitor public procurement effectively
– Increased transparency and accountability in government procurement processes
– Strengthened collaboration between CSOs and government entities
– Enhanced civic engagement and awareness regarding public expenditure and procurement
– A draft CSOs’ Public Procurement Oversight Plan and action plan for implementation
By supporting CSOs in strengthening procurement oversight, USAID S2S is contributing to the promotion of good governance and transparency in Nigeria.
