RoLAC Sensitises Anambra CSOs, Media on Enhanced Engagements with Public Procurement Entities

By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba

As part of its continuous sensitisation and enlightenment of the relevant individuals, for enhanced engagements with public procurement entities in Anambra State, the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, organised a One-Day Capacity Building Training for Civil Society Organisations and media practitioners in the state, under the aegies of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)/Media Accountability and Anti-Corruption Initiative.

The capacity building training which was to enlighten the participants on the fundamental provisions of Anambra State Public Procurement Law (PPL) 2011 (as Amended in 2021), was held at the Conference Hall of Best Western Meloch Hotels, Awka, Anambra State.

Goodness Media reports that the organiser and sponsor of the workshop, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Program (RoLAC), is being funded by the European Union, and implemented by the International IDEA.

Facilitating the training, the RoLAC Consultant, Barr Chukwuma Chinaka, said the capacity building was for better interaction and enlightenment, noting that skills and expertise, resistance from state actors and
financial constraints, were the challenges which CSOs had.

Pointing out that CSOs referred to wide array of organisations such as community groups, NGOs, labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organisations, faith-based organizations and professional organisations, which are not-for-profit, have presence in public life, as well as express the interests and values of their members or others based on ethical, cultural, political, scientific, religious or philanthropic considerations, the facilitator said the objectives of CSOs were drawn and inspired by the citizens and constituency members.

Barr Chinaka, who is of MildRose Law Firm, Abuja, identified observation, monitoring, giving of feedback to procurement entities and intervention roles, as the expectations from the CSOs and the media.

This was even as he identified effective and efficient utilisation of public resources, need to know the linkage between the citizens budget and public procurement and promotion of competitiveness and fairness in the procurement and public financial management wide system, as some of the reasons behind the involvement of Civil Society Organisations in public procurement.

Citing the Anambra State PPL (as amended), the facilitator noted that the Anambra Stat Bureau of Public Procurement (ANSBPP) is the regulatory body that supposed to keep the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on their toes so as to abide by the rules, and that the ANSBPP is not supposed to carry out projects.

He addded that in line with the same PPL, the CSOs were expected to ensure compliance by the procuring entities, and liaise with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) towards the attainment of its objectives under 5.6 of the PPL (as amended), as well as partner with big CSOs and engage the state government towards making the system better.

Pointing out that it was also the duty of the CSOs to educate citizens on the procurement activities of Anambra State Government, Chinaka advocated the importance for Civil Society Organisations to take up Corruption Risk Assessment in BPP so as to ensure improved system.

He charged the CSOs in Anambra to according to their prospects, coalesce to jointly present and set common agenda for the attainment of the objectives of Anambra State PPL (as amended) and its rules, advocate for the appointment of their nominees in the Public Procurement Council and advocate for the establishment of procurement cadre in Anambra State.

Chinaka, who spoke further on fundamental principles of public procurement, according to the Anambra State PPL (as amended), noted that public procurements were to be carried out subject to prior review thresholds, based only on procurement plans supported by prior budgetary appropriations, and no procurement proceedings shall be formalised until there are funds available to meet the obligations. He maintained that no budget, no procurement stands, and any
procurement purported to be awarded without a Certificate of No Objection shall be null and void.

While emphasising that compliance to the PPL was of essence, the facilitator explained the need for Anambra State procurement stakeholders to understand and possess firm grasp of the procurement principles, as well as align themselves to it so as to ensure enhanced delivery of Anambra State Government’s Development Objectives.

On way forward, he stated that MDAs should be allowed to carry out their procurement in line with the budgets, while the BPP would do its work as the regulatory agency, and provide guidelines for the MDAs on the processes of procurement.
He explained that the E-procurement system did not in any way take away the right to procurement from the MDAs.

Earlier in his goodwill message, the General Manager/CEO, Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement (ANSBPP), Arc Okey Ezeobi, urged the participants to make the best of the training so as to ensure improved system for the good of Anambra State and its citizens.

Ezeobi, who was represented by the
ConsultingHead, Department of Capacity Building & Operations, ANSBPP, Dr Tony Okoye, appreciated the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) for organising and sponsoring the training for the CSOs and media practitioners.