The Ministry of Regional Development has organized a One -Day Retreat for the newly inaugurated Boards and Managements teams of South-South, South-West and North Central Development Commissions in Abuja.
Minister of Regional Development, Engineer Abubakar Momoh in his opening remarks at the event, challenged them to be diligent and align their vision with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This retreat is not just about procedures and processes; it is about aligning your vision with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President and the policy direction of this Ministry. Your performance will be judged not by the number of contracts awarded, but by the lives you touch, the communities you uplift, and the opportunities you create” he said.
The Minister stressed that in carrying out their responsibilities, transparency, accountability, and due process must remain the watchwords, saying, “that is why the presence of the Bureau of Public Procurement here today is vital’, he said.
Engineer Abubakar charged the participants to rise above personal interests and deliver on the trust reposed in them by the President, the National Assembly, and the Nigerian people and let the story of their tenure be one of service, integrity, and impact.
He assured of the Ministry’s total support and guidance.
Minister of State, Regional Development, HE. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, in his speech described the Commissions as instruments through which the Renewed Hope covenant of Mr. President with Nigerians will be felt at the grassroots level. “You are the frontline commanders of that vision in the South West, North Central, and South South zones”, said.
Maigari charged the participants ” Let the people feel the difference, deliver projects that speak for themselves, Implement programmes that lift families out of poverty, build trust through transparency, fairness, and accountability. Above all, work in unity with your Boards, stakeholders, and the supervising Ministry to ensure that no effort is wasted. He said.
According to him, as Minister of State, I assure you of my full support and cooperation. Together with the Honourable Minister and our Permanent Secretary, we will walk with you every step of the way to ensure that these Commissions become symbols of hope, progress, and service to our great nation.
The Minister of State, urged them to remember that history will judge us not by the titles we held, but by the difference we made in the lives of our people.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mary Ada Ogbeh in her remarks extended warm congratulations to the new leadership of the SWDC, NCDC, and SSDC on their appointments.
According to her, “This retreat marks the beginning of a collective journey towards strengthening regional development and ensuring that the vision of the Federal Government for balanced, inclusive, and sustainable growth across all regions of Nigeria is realized.”
Speaking further, Dr Ogbeh reiterated that the establishment of Regional Development Commissions was borne out of the recognition that our country’s prosperity must be broad-based, addressing peculiar developmental challenges of each region and harnessing their unique potentials.
According to her, as custodians of public trust, your decisions and actions must at all times reflect compliance with extant rules and regulations, particularly the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and other financial management frameworks, she said.
The Director of Procurement in the Ministry, Lawal Abdul Rasheed in his remarks said that procurement plays a central role in the delivery of government programs, pointing out that more than seventy percent of government budgets are implemented through procurement processes even as the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of our procurement systems directly determine whether or not, citizens feel the impact of government in their daily lives.
He assured that the Ministry of Regional Development, in exercising its oversight role, places strong emphasis on strict compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and adherence to the guiding principles of accountability, value-for-money, fairness, and competition, warning that’s shortcuts in procurement may yield immediate gains for a few, but in the long run, they erode public trust and derail the developmental mandates.
“We must work closely with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and ensure that due diligence is applied at every stage— from planning to tendering, evaluation, award, and contract management”, he said
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adedokun Adebowole made a presentation on Procurement procedures.
He strongly warned on the need for strict compliance with all procedures enshrined in the Procurement Act 2007 to accelerate developed in all regions and to avoid any infractions.
Signed
Lawan Ahmed Danbazau mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations
