By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has joined forces with the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), an arm of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, in order to intensify the battle against corruption in contracting and public procurement.
The two agencies jointly organized a two-day sensitisation workshop on anti-graft in contracting and public procurement for the members of staff in Abuja.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, while delivering the keynote address at the workshop, which was focused on “Anti-Corruption Requirements and Best Practices in Public Procurement,” explained that the workshop would equip the participants with the best anti-corruption practices and procedures.
Wabote indicated that some of the errors committed by public servants were not deliberate but due to a lack of understanding of the procurement best practices.
In his own words, “the partnerships with Independent Corrupt Practices Commission
(ICPC) and ACAN will ensure that ministries, departments and agencies are well equipped and up to date with the anti-corruption best practices. Public servants need these kinds of training in order for them to understand and protect themselves and their organisations from corruption and corrupt practices.”
He urged the participants to learn and implement the laid down processes to manage corrupt practices and conflicts of interest.
Providing an update on the board’s effort towards anti-corruption, Wabote expressed that the Board had established a corruption desk in-house as suggested by ACAN, to ensure a high level of transparency and accountability across operations.