Date: 2017-03-20

A Bill to ensure due process, transparency, competitiveness and check corrupt practices in the award of contracts in Kwara State passed through Second Reading at the floor of the State House of Assembly.

The Bill tagged " Kwara State Public Procurement Agency and for Connected Purposes " when passed into law by the Legislature will give legal backing to the establishment of the agency that would be regulating award of contracts above N100m in the State.

Leading other Members in the debate on the significance of the bill, the Leader of the House, Hon. Hassan Oyeleke said the executive bill, in view of the prevailing condition in the Country, would help to ensure perfection and competitiveness in the way of doing things by the state government.

A Member representing Oke Ogun Constituency, Barrister Kamaldeen Fagbemi who traced the origin of the bill to United Kingdom in 1924 said bill when passed into law, would among other things ensure prudence and accountability in governance in the State.

Members representing Ilorin North West, Ekiti, Ojomu/Balogun and Oke Ero Constituencies Hon Abdul Rafiu Abdul Rahman, Mrs Ebun Owolabi, Prince Saheed Popoola and Hon Bunmi Afolayan expressed confidence that the bill would ensure value for money, promotes Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and quality service delivery in the State.

However a member representing Owode/ Onire Constituency, Hon Abdul Rasheed Taiwo Abdullahi urged members to critically look into the issue of threshold of N100m, while mobilization of Contractors he said should also be embedded in the bill to properly strengthen the anti corruption institution in the State.

Speaking on the bill, the Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad who presided over Thursday 16th of March, 2017 directed the Clerk of the House, Alh. Ahmed Mohammad to read the bill for the Second time, committed the bill to the joint committee of Finance and Appropriation, Ethics and Privileges and Judiciary for further legislative activities which according to him should include Public hearing to harvest public opinions on the bill.

Dr Ahmad who noted that the bill was non discriminatory, enhances good governance, said the fear of contract splitting and emergency award of contracts, have been addressed by the Supreme Court.

The Speaker expressed confidence that the bill would further strengthen anti corruption processes and Institutions in the State and enjoined the people of the State to make inputs on the bill, to have a practicable and enduring anti corruption law in the State.