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Wike Urges COREN To Advocate Review Of Procurement Law
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has enjoined the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, to canvass for the overhaul of the procurement life cycle in the country.
The governor said such advocacy has become imperative because the current procurement life cycle in the country, and inadequate budgetary system are the primary reasons for prevalence of abandoned projects.
Governor Wike gave the charge to COREN during the inauguration of the Rivers State Technical Committee (RSTC) and Rivers State Expatriate Monitoring Committee of Engineering Regulation at Nigerian Society for Engineers secretariat in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, attributed the infrastructural feat achieved by his administration to the proactive budgetary system adopted by the State government.
According to him, in every given year, over 70 percent of the State budget is dedicated to capital expenditure, and 30 or less to recurrent expenditure.
Governor Wike explained that on assumption of office, he had approached the State House of Assembly to adjust the procurement law to make it more realistic and practicable.
He said the adjustment of the State procurement law laid the foundation and framework for his administration to conceptualise, initial and complete projects on record time.
Governor declared that the Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School constructed by the Rivers State government in Port Harcourt within eight months, should have ordinarily been completed between four to five years if the country’s existing procurement life cycle was followed.
“The procurement life cycle here in Nigeria is very long. If you follow the procurement life cycle religiously before you give birth to a project and commence construction, it will take like three, four, five months.
“If you follow Procurement Act 2000, which recommends for about 15 percent mobilisation fees, and then you budget 15 percent in your yearly budget, just like the federal government budget is being done.
“If you take it to the National Assembly they will put 15 percent of the cost of the project in the budget. When you put 15 percent of the cost of the project in the budget, what are we saying? we are saying that this project should be completed in 6 years or more.
“When you look at your contract completion period, if your contract completion period of the project is one year and you budget fully for that project in that particular year, then you are sure of completing that project in that particular year.
“If your contract completion project or a given project is two years, and then you budget 50 percent of the cost of that project in this year’s budget, 50 percent of cost in the next year’s budget, then you have done the right thing.”
The Rivers State governor disclosed that by adopting a realistic procurement law and budgetary system, his administration has in less than eight years achieved over 890 kilometres of roads, including dualised ones.
He further added that in one or two weeks, over 1000 Km of roads constructed would have been achieved.
“We have done drainages of over 493 Km in the past seven to eight years. We have done flyovers and overpasses of over 11km in just four years. We have done several river crossing bridges of 3Km. When I say 3 Km, some maybe 300 metres long, some maybe 400 metres long.”
Governor Wike said adoption of a practicable procurement law and realistic budget system will help eliminate the problem incessant request for variation in the construction industry.
The Rivers State governor advised every Bureau of Public Procurement in the country to have a functional price intelligence unit.
Governor Wike commended COREN for inaugurating the Rivers State Technical Committee (RSTC) and Rivers State Expatriate Monitoring Committee of Engineering Regulation as part of measures to eliminate quackery in the construction industry.
“I strongly support the formation of the Rivers State technical committees, and I can assure you that the two engineers we have as members there, are engineers of no mean repute and engineers that know their onion. I can assure you that they are going to add value to whatever you are doing.”
The national president of COREN, Prof Sadiq Zubairu Abubakar, said they were in Port Harcourt on a visit to study the achievements of the State government in engineering practice.
He said governor Wike has executed projects that are too numerous to mention, particularly the construction of 12 flyovers between 2019 and 2023.
Abubakar said it is his sincere wish that governor Wike’s sterling performance in office will change the psychic and mindset of other political leaders at various levels in Nigeria.
According to him, it is noteworthy that progress and good governance courtesy of governor Wike, is spread across Rivers State, through the delivery of infrastructure that the average citizen can see, feel, use and touch.
“We have confirmed what the President of our country, General Muhammadu Buhari bestowed on His Excellency, the governor of Rivers State, as the best governor for infrastructural development in Nigeria. we have seen the projects.
The COREN president, who later visited Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt and some of the flyovers, said governor WIke has created a niche for himself as a person, and has changed the narrative of governance in Nigeria.
“The plan, policy and maintenance culture is very high, and we expect that these efforts will speak volumes down the road that Rivers State have indeed seen a governor that is going to leave an enduring legacy in the area he has chosen to make impact.”
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Emeka Woke, assured COREN that the representatives of the State government in the two committees will work in accordance with the Engineers Registration Act Cap of 2004 and other operational guidelines.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
