By Habiba Onakpa Ibrahim
Kogi State Local Government Service Commission Trains Budget Directors on Public Procurement Law Compliance
In a significant effort to strengthen financial prudence and promote good governance at the grassroots level, the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission (KGLGSC) on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, organized a comprehensive training workshop for Directors of Budget, Research, and Statistics from the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The one-day intensive workshop, held at the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) hall in Lokoja, was themed: “Understanding the Public Procurement Act at the Local Government Level.”
The event aimed to deepen the knowledge of key local government officials on the legal and procedural frameworks guiding public procurement, ensuring greater compliance and value-for-money spending across local government areas.
Declaring the workshop open, the Chairman of the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Adabenege Adams represented by the Commissioner for Establishment Administration and Public Service, noted that the workshop was a proactive intervention by the Commission in response to the increasing need for transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the handling of public funds at the local level.
“Today’s training is not just another administrative routine. It is a cornerstone in our broader strategy to reposition the local government system as a credible and responsible agent of grassroots development. Understanding the Public Procurement Act is crucial for ensuring that the resources meant for the people are used judiciously and transparently,” Hon. Adabenege stated.
He stressed that as frontline officers responsible for budget planning and project monitoring, the directors BPRS must not only be conversant with the Procurement Act but also serve as enforcers of due process in the respective departments they head.
The resource Person, Dr Abdullahi Wahab Zakaria, in His presentation, stressed the need for the various heads of the Budget, Procurement, Research and Statistics ensure that there is proper transparency in the bidding process of the local government.
Citing various sections of repealed Local government law of 2024, he added that Ignorance of the law is never an excuse.
He also said procurement officers should always ensure they get the best services at a minimum cost.
Adding, procurement process must ensure integrity of purpose where public funds, assets are utilized in line with budgetary provision, intended purpose and rule of law.
in his keynote remarks, the Commissioner for Training, Hon. Babadoko Suleiman, represented by The director training, Mr Olusanmi Olugbemisola, said
“We cannot achieve an overall National development without first sanitizing procurement practices at the local level. The law provides the roadmap — your responsibility is to follow it strictly and ensure your department doesn’t fall foul of it.
Participants were engaged in scenario-based exercises designed to simulate procurement planning and contract evaluation. Real-life case studies from within and outside the state were used to highlight common pitfalls such as contract inflation, bid rigging, lack of competition, and procedural errors that often lead to audit queries and project failures.
Facilitators walked the participants through the standard procurement cycle — from needs assessment, budget alignment, tender publication, bid evaluation, contract award, to project execution and monitoring.
At the end of the training, participants appreciated the commission for a thoughtful training workshop and promised to put everything they had learnt into proper use.
In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission Elder Sunday Odeh, represented by the Director Administration, Mr Anaha Muhammad, commended the directors for their active participation and urged them to take the knowledge back to their various local governments.
“You are not just participants in
