Engage more PWDs, women in public procurement processes, PPDC tasks Ekiti Government

Adebayo Adenrele



The Public and Private Development Centre, (PPDC) has called on Ekiti State Government to engage more People with disabilities, PWDs, women and other vulnerable citizens in public procurement in order to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability in the procurement processes.

The Centre made this known on Friday in Ado-ekiti, at day 2 of the validation workshop of public procurement assessment themed: “Improving Transparency and Accountability in Public Procurement”.

Addressing Newsmen, the Communication Officer of the Organisation, Nnenna Eze said the purpose of the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable citizens such as as PWDs, Women and other stakeholders to effectively engage the Government.

She stressed that the organisation discovered loopholes in Ekiti State when they carried out a research on public procurement in 2022, on government’s compliance to FOI act and Procurement Act.

This according to them, prompted the workshop in order to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and cover the loopholes and ensure effective procurement processes.

Speaking on the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) portal, she charged the government to be transparent by giving the public relevant information of Bidders and Contractors and upload up-to-date data of the projects on the portal.

In her words, “PPDC came to Ekiti State to engage with our stakeholders from the Government and the civil society organisations, the media and the vulnerable groups.

“Last year, we carried out a Report on the assessment of the Public Procurement processes in Ekiti State and how the Govt is complying to the FOI act and procurement act.

“We found out some loopholes and we came here today to ensure that we are able to collaborate and cover those loopholes to ensures effective procurement processes, and a fair and open contracting process for all.

“There is a need for the government to open up and give the public more relevant information on the open contracting Portal.

“The government most put more relevant and up-to-date information on the portal.

“We will work with the Government to ensure that Persons with Disabilities and other vulnerable citizens are included in the procurement processes.” She said

On his part, a representive from Ekiti State Public Service, Bamidele Arowosola said there’s the need for government to improve on equality and equity in the process of awarding contracts, adding that Vulnerable citizens should be encouraged to participate in contracting arrangements in the various MDAs.