Akwa Ibom Gov’t Sets Up Committees On Public Procurement, Debt Management
Akwa Ibom State Government has inaugurated the Public Procurement and Debt Management Councils.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, performed the inauguration on behalf of Governor Udom Emmanuel, at his office on Friday, June 26, 2020.
Dr. Ekuwem said the exercise was in line with the commitment of Governor Udom Emmanuel led-Administration to continually enthrone transparency and accountability in the management of public procurement process.
He asserted, “The gentleman that is the governor of this state, Mr Udom Emmanuel is a very highly experienced and respected personality in the global financial services industry.
“Those of us who are deeply involved with him and working under him know that he has attracted a lot of goodwill, investments and interest to this state by virtue of who he is and what he is in the financial services industry.”
The State Public Procurement Council and the Debt Management Council has the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Linus Nkan as Chairman, the Executive Secretary, State Bureau of Public Procurement, Ndifreke Akpan, serves as Secretary of the Procurement Council, while the Head of Debt Management Office, Mrs Enobong Okpongkpong is the Secretary of the Debt Management Council.
Members of the Public Procurement Council include the Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr Akan Okon, Chairman, Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation, Dr. Elijah Akpan and
representative of the Secretary to the State Government, Aniekan Effiong.
Others are representatives of the Head of Civil Service, Mrs Ekaette Ekanem, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management, Mr Monday Umana, Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) Elder (Barr.) Isonguyo Uko, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ukeme Okop and the Civil Society Organisations, Pastor Henry Udoh.
Members of the Debt Management Council include, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko,
Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr Akan Okon,
Accountant-General, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien and the Executive Secretary, State Bureau of Public Procurement, Ndifreke Akpan.
Responding on behalf of members of the two Councils, the Chairman, Mr Linus Nkan thanked Governor Emmanuel for the confidence reposed in them and assured that members of the two Councils would perform their assigned responsilities in line with the philosophy of the Governor which he said, is anchored on accountability and transparency and also in compliance with the law establishing the Councils in the state.
The Commissioner for Finance said, “Today, Akwa Ibom State has joined the rest of other states and the Federal Government of Nigeria to comply with the requirements of World Bank to ensure that these very two important agencies; Akwa Ibom State Public Procurement Council and the Akwa Ibom State Debt Management Council are established in Akwa Ibom State.”
Nkan, who commended Governor Emmanuel for assenting to the law, said the inauguration of the Councils was a demonstration of the seriousness of the Governor in ensuring accountability and transparency in the business of governance of the state.
Recalled that the Bureau for Public Procurement Council (BPP) was established during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo as a way of ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement materials or goods in the country.
