Ondo Assembly Concludes First Public Procurement Audit , Warns MDAs on Compliance
By Awodeyi Elizabeth
The Ondo State House of Assembly has concluded its public sitting on the 2023 reports of the State Bureau of Public Procurement (ODBPP).
The two-day exercise, held at the Assembly Complex, featured appearances by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) according to a scheduled timetable.
Speaking with journalists after the event, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on Tender and Procurement, Hon.Tunji Ifabiyi, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their cooperation, which he said enabled the committee to thoroughly examine the reports.
He explained that the audit, the first of its kind by the House since 2017, was aimed at reinforcing public trust in government financial transactions and promoting transparency, probity, and accountability in the system.
Hon. Ifabiyi, however, warned MDAs to ensure they submit their reports annually as required, instead of delaying them into the following year. He urged those MDAs whose reports were not cleared to comply within the stipulated time to avoid severe sanctions.
The lawmaker also emphasized the importance of regular capacity-building training for staff, noting that it would enhance their efficiency and performance.
Other committee members noted that the exercise also provided an opportunity to identify the challenges facing some agencies, assuring that the legislature would take necessary steps to address them.
A senior official of the ODBPP, Mr Bunmi Akinsemola, described the exercise as historic, highlighting it as the first public hearing on a procurement audit report in Ondo State and possibly in Nigeria.
Akinsemola commended the State Assembly for the initiative, noting that Ondo State is setting a new benchmark in public procurement transparency. He further revealed that 37 MDAs participated in the first phase of the audit for the 2023 fiscal year.
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