By Oscarline Onwuemenyi

ABUJA — The Bureau of Public Procurement disclosed yesterday that it has initiated the prosecution of about 18 officials for breach of the procurement process in this year’s budget.

The Director-General of the Due Process Office, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, who made the disclosure at an engagement with professionals from the works and built industry, also revealed that more government officials as well as contractors are being investigated and would face prosecution if found wanting.

He told the gathering that, “About 18 persons are currently under prosecution for various acts that breached the procurement process and led to poor contract implementation, which cost government millions of dollars.

“The greatest frustration is that our colleagues (professionals in the built services industry) were involved in the laxity and poor implementation of contracts. This meeting is a call for revival of our professional and moral ethos to always do the right thing.”

Ezeh explained that the procurement process in the country was being frustrated by the lack of interest shown by professionals in various sectors, adding that there was need to adhere to the ethics of professional bodies, especially as regards government procurement.

He said, “The challenge we have is that professionals appear not to be enthusiastic as civil society and media in the procurement process even though they are the ones that are mostly involved in consultancy for public projects.

“Often, because of the technical nature of what we do, we need thoroughbred professionals to drive the process, and not those who see public procurement and expenditure as buying and selling.”