Following the passage of 2018 Budget, the Delta State Public Procurement Commission has assured contractors, public officials and civil servants of quick response to all requests directed to it, pursuant to the law establishing the body.

The commission has also expressed its readiness to operate a transparent system in regulating procurement activities in the state, in line with the its mandate.

The Director General of the commission, Joseph Duke Okeze gave the assurance in a chat with newsmen in Asaba, capital of Delta State during which he commended Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa for running an open and transparent government devoid of financial recklessness and indiscipline.

He therefore debunked insinuations that the governor was diverting public funds and engaging in corrupt practices, noting that on the contrary, Governor Okowa has maintained a prudent approach to financial matters, while adhering to laid down procedure in the disbursement of the lean resources that have accrued to the State since he took over office in May 2015.

“I want to place on record that Governor Okowa has run a transparent administration devoid of financial recklessness. I also affirm that he has maintained financial prudence in the disbursement of the scarce resources that has accrued to the state since he took over in May 2015. I therefore find it preposterous that anyone could be suggesting that he is corrupt”, he declared.

The DG particularly commended Governor Okowa for establishing the Delta State Public Procurement Commission early in his administration, in line with what obtains at the federal level, arguing that this was a clear demonstration of his sincerity and intention to run a public financial discipline.

“We must remember that not all states have established the procurement regulatory Agencies. But Governor Okowa has shown that he is sincere by initiating the Law on Public Procurement, and establishing the commission to implement the law. This shows he has nothing to hide and indeed, he deserves special commendation”, he added.

Duke Okeze however assured the public that mechanism has been put in place by the commission to block loopholes in the State procurement activities, while also appealing to the public to draw its attention to infractions in funds expenditure at all levels, assuring that confidentiality is totally guaranteed.

“The commission is largely preventive. Mechanism has been put in place to block loopholes, ensure transparency, fairness, competition and value-for-money in Delta State public procurement. But we are also appealing to the public to let us know when the law setting us up has been breached, and I want to assure all that such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality. We shall immediately swing into action based on the law setting us up”, he stated.