How to install transparency in procurement process - Ogunsola

Corporations and governmental organizations commonly adopt systems to promote honest and open competition for their companies while lowering risks like exposure to fraud and collusion. 

However, according to a 2016 report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the commission revealed that 60% of corruption cases in Nigeria were procurement related with the chairman of the commission, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, also stating that corrupt practices in the public sector are mostly done through shady procurement processes. 

With questions surrounding the process of procurement in the public sector clearly defined and needing a solution, fast-growing technology start-up, Prunedge in a bid to help minimise procurement fraud and corruption to the barest minimum and ensure a level playing field for potential bidders launched the iProkure Electronic Procurement Solutions.  

iProkure is an Electronic Procurement System (E-procurement) digital solution designed to improve the purchasing and supply process, transparency, and efficiency of transactions between state parastatals and contractors/vendors. It provides a single online portal for stakeholders to facilitate and engage in public procurement processes leading to transparency, healthy competition, time, and cost-saving efficiencies. 

The iProkure platform effectively handles processes such as electronic publication of bids, Electronic Bidding and Tendering, Contract Administration Management, E-Evaluation, Data Analytics (reporting and dashboard), Public Asset Disposal, Supplier's catalog, Vendors Registration and vetting, Role-based access control and user permission, Budget management, E-Payment, Payslip Management and Integrations. 

Speaking on the need for federal, state and different governments parastatals to incorporate e-procurement into their structures, Ogunsola, said a platform such as iProkure would help reduce corruption and sharp practices also revealing that forward thinking states such as Delta and Kwara states have taken the initiative to go all digital with their procurements, a situation that has massively reduced sharp practices and favouritism ensuring that the most deserving and qualified organisation no matter size gets the job. 

“iProkure is an e-governance procurement solution that handles any or all steps of public procurement process. It aids the traditional workflow process and reduces processing time for contracts. The whole point of iprokure is to drive efficiency, transparency, competition fairness, value for money, reduce cost of processing for the government, reduce corruption as well as ensure that the public procurement regime does not constitute a barrier to national development, while protecting the public against contract fraud. 

iProkure has been adopted by Delta and Kwara states under the World Bank SFTAS program and the feedback from them has been very positive. It has brought about transparency to their procurement activities and the hope is that in the future, we’ll have more states digitise their procurement process which would help them get the best vendors for their projects.”