TETFund to Curb Graft in Projects Execution

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has moved to curb corruption in the execution of projects execution and ensure that beneficiary institutions adhere strictly to the public procurement processes.

Its Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, stated this at a three-day capacity-building workshop on the public procurement process for the fund’s beneficiary institutions.

The workshop, organised by TETFund in collaboration with the Public Procurement Bureau (BPP), was held at Amani Event Centre in Kano.

Participants at the workshop included vice chancellors, rectors and provosts of tertiary institutions in Northwest and Northeast.

Echono said: “The objective of this workshop, among others, is to equip the beneficiary tertiary institutions with the basic procurement processes towards addressing corrupt practices in all TETFund projects nationwide.”

The executive secretary noted that the workshop would serve as a refresher training for the fund’s desk officers in the 246 enlisted beneficiary tertiary institutions across the country.

To achieve the set objectives, Echono urged the participants to “utilise the opportunity and sharpen” their skills and experiences in public procurement law.

The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Alhaji Mamman Ahmadu, stressed that “the capacity-building workshop is timely and geared towards attaining the provision of the public procurement Act”.

He added: “We are here today to build the capacity of accounting officers, principal officers, public officers, and other key players and stakeholders in the procurement value chain.”

The BPE boss warned TETFund beneficiary institutions against awarding contracts with insufficient funds.