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Commissioner of Public Procurement |
Speaking in a recent interview, the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Nura Ma'aji, said that these efforts are rooted in the Kano State Public Procurement Law of 2021. The law was established to transform how the state handles the acquisition of goods, services, and public works.
Commissioner Ma'aji outlined that the ministry's operations are guided by three non-negotiable objectives:
* Transparency: Ensuring an ethically guided process for all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
* Value for Money: Guaranteeing that every Naira spent by the state is accounted for.
* Quality: Ensuring that contractors meet the exact technical specifications agreed upon in their contracts.
One of the most significant shifts in the state's financial discipline is the ministry's role as the final "clearing house" for contractor payments.
"Whatever we issue, that is what will translate into becoming a voucher, and then that is what will also translate into a payment," Ma'aji stated.
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Commissioner Nura Ma'aji
Fielding Questions from
Team of Journalists from
Kaduna |
Unlike previous systems where MDAs might handle their own certifications, this ministry now independently scrutinizes work completion before any funds are released. This process includes rigorous field inspections by teams of experts to verify that the work on the ground matches the claims on paper.
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The Commissioner highlighted a robust monitoring schedule where teams visit all 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs). On average, the ministry covers between 28 and 30 LGAs every month to ensure no project is left uninspected. Some of these visits are conducted "covertly" to get an authentic view of project progress.
Addressing the fairness of the process, Ma'aji noted that the procurement process is designed to be inclusive, offering equal opportunities to all qualified contractors regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
The Ministry currently tracks 917 specific projects listed on its digital portal (kanoprocurement.ng), though the Commissioner noted the total number of monitored activities exceeds 1,000 when accounting for ongoing service implementations.
Ma'aji stated that the success of the current administration is tied directly to the ministry's performance. "If this ministry fails... the government itself has failed," he remarked, underscoring the vital role of fiscal discipline in the state's development.
