NAN-H-15
Conduct
By Lucy Nwachukwu
Abuja, Aug. 26, 2017 (NAN) Alhaji Diekola Oyewo, President, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN), has urged procurement officers not to be willing tools in the hands of politicians to perpetrate corruption.
Oyewo also advised procurement officers in both public and private establishments to uphold ethical standards in their various assignments.
He spoke at the induction of new members and fellows of the institute on Saturday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the institute inducted 290 members from 15 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Oyewo said that the procurement officers could only support the government in the fight against corruption by ensuring that procurement processes were undertaken transparently.
According to him, greed, combined with holding a position of authority and low ethical standards, were currently the two conditions that favoured corruption.
“As professionals, you must contend with various aspects of ethical conduct that relate to the procurement role from differing stand points.
“Total ethical conduct comprises separate responsibilities to, at least, four distinct constituencies.
“As procurement professionals, you must perform your role in a manner that protects your employer ethically.
“Reputation and fairness are key characteristics that must be established in the buying process,” he said.
Oyewo also called for the introduction of ethical values or ethics in the primary and secondary schools curriculum to help the young generation to mould their character.
According to him, causes of corruption in Nigeria is as a result of poor value orientation, saying that while fighting corruption, government should also think of its prevention.
Also, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, the Registrar, CIPSMN, implored the inductees to contribute their quota towards the emancipation of the country from its present situation.
Aliyu said that most successful and advanced nations of the world today, had their professionals committed to solving their problems with collective superior knowledge.
He urged them to learn to speak professional procurement language, saying that effective management and development process was critical to improvement in national and organisational performance.
“Once we learn to talk the procurement language which they can understand, they will then get the whole point clear and buy into it.
“The effective management of procurement process is now seen as critical to gain improvement in national and organisational performance,” he said. (NAN)
LCN/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye