Gov Matawalle establishes Bureau for Public procurement, inaugurates Council members

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Zamfara State Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle has for the first time in the history of the state inaugurated 20 members to run the affairs of the Bureau for Public Procurement to headed by the Governor himself as Chairman.
The ceremony which held at the Government House Gusau on Monday, was the first of its kind since the creation of Zamfara state twenty five years ago.
Governor Matawalle said the establishment of the Bureau was part of his Administration’s efforts to deeply entrench the culture of transparency in the process of awards of contracts, pointing out that since coming on board, his administration has introduced a number of reforms in the public service.
Matawalle added that part of the reforms was the establishment of the Bureau for Public Procurement which is basically aimed at addressing the public concern on the poor level of transparency and robust institutional mechanism to ensure effective and prudent utilisation of public funds.
He explained that as the world was fast becoming a global village in technology, the global business environment is competitive more than at any other time in human history, part of the key considerations in making investment decisions was the transparency in the prospective business environment.
“The creation of the Bureau was not only aimed at addressing issues relating to contracts awarded by the State Government and the executions, but also winning the confidence of investors even from within and outside the country”, Matawalle has stated.
He further explained that, the Bureau and its Council members will ensure a more transparent system of contract bidding, award and implementation in line with global transparency initiative.
The composition of the Council were the Governor or, in his absence, the Deputy Governor will serve as the Chairman, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, Head of service, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, Attorney General and Commissioner of justice, Commissioner of Finance and the Commissioner of Budget and Economic planning.
Others were the Director General of the Bureau who was also the Chairman Zamfara State Anti corruption Commission, three other persons with experience in Engineering, Law, Economics and Procurement. One from each of the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
Also other Council members includes, Alhaji Hamisu Danjibga, who will represent the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ State Council, Representative of the institute of purchasing and supply, Representative of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Representative of the Association of Surveyors and Estate Valuers amongst others.