The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Federal Government’s digital transformation policy, particularly regarding procurement reforms, as part of efforts to promote transparency, efficiency, and accountability within the Commission.

Speaking during a Stakeholders and Service Providers Sensitisation and Training Workshop in Warri, Delta State, the Director, Procurement Department, NDDC, Dr Chuks Osuji, said the initiative was meant to educate key stakeholders, including government officials, procurement officers, consultants and contractors, private-sector vendors, and civil society organisations, on recent reforms and the transition to a fully digitised procurement framework.

Osuji, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Procurement, Mr Tumi Grant, stated that the NDDC was determined to adopt global best practices and improve service delivery. He underscored the importance of equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and tools needed to engage effectively with the digitised procurement system.

He noted: “This effort is part of a broader commitment to modernised procurement practices, which reduces inefficiencies and ensures value for money. Digitisation will make the work easier; you can do your bidding from anywhere, without the bottleneck of the manual process. It will end nepotism, bureaucracy, and illegality in the process."

In his remarks, the NDDC Director, Delta State Office, Engr. Onoriode Omo-Udoyo, stated that the Federal Government’s directive on the digitisation of operations of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, must be fully implemented. He observed that procurement, as a key interface between the Commission and contractors/service providers, had its own specific digital template.

He explained that the workshop was organised to sensitise and educate stakeholders on the Commission’s digitised procurement process, ensuring proper understanding and seamless integration into the new system.

He further highlighted that the digitisation of procurement would improve efficiency, enhance transparency and accountability, and reduce delays and irregularities associated with manual processes. He urged participants to actively engage and take full advantage of the workshop as the Commission transitions to a more efficient and accountable procurement regime.

Presenting a paper on policy reform and transparency in procurement, one of the resource persons, Dr Rex Ugulu, a Research Coordinator in Procurement Management at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, outlined the concept and importance of public procurement in economic development, service delivery, and accountability.

He emphasised the need for the transition from traditional procurement methods to digital systems, noting that procurement automation enhances transparency, reduces corruption, and improves efficiency.

•PHOTO: NDDC Director, Delta State Office, Engr. Onoriode Omo-Udoyo (3rd right) and the Training Consultant, Mrs Onyeka Obioha (3rd left), joined by other resource persons, during Policy Reform and Digitisation of the NDDC Procurement System (Stakeholder Sensitisation & Training Workshop) in Warri, Delta State.