Gov Okowa Laid Foundation For Smart Agenda In Public Procurement – Okeze

Mr Joseph Duke Okeze

The Director-General of Delta State Public Procurement Commission (DSPPC), Mr Joseph Duke Okeze has disclosed that  governor Ifeanyi Okowa has laid a foundation for the Smart Agenda in public procurement in the state.

Mr Okeze made the disclosure on Tuesday in Asaba while declaring open a 2-day sensitization workshop for Contractors, Civil Society Organizations and the Media on ‘New Public Procurement Regime' in Delta state.

He said the governor's Smart Agenda in relation to public procurement led to the enactment of the Delta State Public Procurement Law in 2016. According to him, “Our Governor embarked on far-reaching institutional, legal and regulatory reforms on assumption of office in 2015.” He noted that the reforms seek to achieve the harmonization of standards and practices, and to achieve transparency, competitiveness and value-for-money in public procurements.



Explaining further, he said “The Law establishes common standards in procurement planning, methods, execution, enforcement and review. It also empowers the Commission set up under it to regulate the practice of public procurement within every government institution in the State.”

Mr Okeze, said the Commission was established in terms of equipment and staffing in late 2017, following  his appointment as the Director-General earlier in the year.

Most participants at the workshop expressed excitement at the new Delta State Public Procurement Management regime because they believe it has the capacity to reposition the quality of Delta State contractors for improved services and facilities to the State and generally give the State true value for every expenditure.

The participants showed willingness to imbibe the change and improvement in public procurement as is being promised by the Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa administration and assured the Director General of every support he needs to making his job easy to make sure Deltans and indeed every visitor to the State gets satisfaction from use of public facilities.

The participants largely welcomed the initiative of the workshop as it has exposed them to international best practices and, while calling for more of such, wished that the Commission will live up to its billing and sustained by successive administrations.

In his closing remark, Mr. Duke Okeze reiterated that Deltans can be rest assured of the sincerity and capability of this Administration in delivering social goods to the public. He drummed it that the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa Administration is such a unique one, since its inauguration, as exemplified by its creation of the Job Creation Office, the Delta State Investment Agency, the State Health Insurance Scheme, the establishment of Capital Territory Development Agency, besides the Delta State Public Procurement Commission, amongst other developments which will be a legacy to this Administration that will no doubt receive the spirit of institutionalization for the benefits of successive Administrations.