The Sokoto State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strict compliance with public procurement standards and due process in the award of contracts, as part of efforts to ensure value for money and strengthen the fight against corruption.
The newly posted Executive Secretary of the State Bureau for Public Procurement, Alhaji Abubakar Gagi, stated this on Wednesday while formally taking over the affairs of the bureau in Sokoto.
Gagi described the Bureau for Public Procurement as a critical institution in the state’s governance structure, noting that its role in enforcing due process and transparency in government contracts was central to promoting accountability and prudence in public spending.
According to him, adherence to established procurement procedures, as well as compliance with stipulated monetary and fiscal policies, remains the backbone of institutionalising integrity and responsible governance in the state.
The Executive Secretary expressed gratitude to Governor Ahmed Aliyu for the confidence reposed in him through the appointment, pledging to justify the trust by ensuring openness and professionalism in the bureau’s operations.
“I will operate an open-door policy to enhance effective service delivery and ensure that procurement processes in the state meet acceptable standards”
Earlier, the bureau’s Legal Secretary, Mr. Sufyanu Saidu, pledged the full support of the management and staff to the new Executive Secretary, stressing their readiness to work collectively to harness productive engagements that would drive the state’s economic growth and development.
Saidu said the staff were committed to partnering with the new leadership to introduce positive reforms that would benefit Sokoto State.
In separate remarks, community leaders including Matawallen Gagi, Alhaji Umar Bala, Dikkon Mana I, Alhaji Bello Muhammad, as well as the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Murtala Muhammad, commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for appointing one of their own to the strategic position.
They charged Gagi to remain a worthy ambassador of the Gagi community by upholding transparency, diligence and integrity in the discharge of his duties.