Deputy Minister in the President’s Office (Public service management and Good Governance), Deogratius Ndejembi, on Wednesday instructed heads of government agencies and institutions to hire competent procurement officers.
The Deputy Minister challenged the heads to send the officers for training to further their expertise.
Mr Ndejembi who was officiating the 13th Procurement and Supplies Professionals and Technicians Board (PSPTB) annual Conference here, further instructed the public institutions and agencies to avoid re-categorisation of staff position.
“It’s high time we hire competent personnel who have actually been registered with PSPTB,” urged the Deputy Minister.
Mr Ndejembi expressed his concern on how some qualified procurement officers were taking blame for mistakes done by other quacks.
“At times some incompetent individuals take up your roles, it is you taking the whole blame when they mess up, this isn’t unacceptable, everyone shall carry their own cross,” asserted the Deputy Minister.
On taking action against rogue procurement officers, Mr Ndejembi appealed to the professional body to approach the issue with a sober mind, saying those being found culpable should be punished within the ethical code of conduct governing the profession.
He equally reminded the procurement and supplies officers to exhibit professionalism saying the sustainability of strategic projects in the country, require their competency.
Earlier on, PSPBT Executive Director Godfrey Mbanyi informed the Deputy Minister that the body had summoned 63 practitioners for disciplinary hearings after their failed to discharge their duties within the ethical codes of conduct.
Another 78 procurement and supplies officers have been given stern warning, according to Mr Mbanyi.
“The board strives to uphold ethics and we will not hesitate taking stern actions to whoever goes astray,” he said.
According to the PSPTB Executive Director, the board had in the financial year 2021/22 registered more 1995 professionals, with the number now totaling to 15, 309.
Themed Sourcing strategic: opportunities and challenges in realising sustainable economic growth and social development, the conference Professionals’ Annual Conference brought together Procurement and Supply professionals and Stakeholders within and outside the country to share and discuss their knowledge, skills and experiences of professional practice and related issues in the profession within the delimitation of conference theme and sub-themes.
