By Chesa Chesa
The Federal Government has announced a policy review aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in the process of contract awards.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the presidential Villa.
According to him, the central objective of this policy review is to address issues surrounding contract awards and align government practices with the existing Public Procurement Act.
He said this shift will allow the FEC to focus on national policy matters of utmost importance.
He said “the Federal Executive Council has always been seen by the media and members of public as being a contract-awarding institution.
“Today the Council took a very major decision to review policy in that direction. So that the Public Procurement Act is brought into practice as it were as to the handling of projects and government activities in Nigeria.
“So that is up for review. So that the Public Procurement Council can exercise its powers under that act and then the council will now concentrate on issues of national importance, on issues of policy. So I thought these are some of the things that’s worthy of note.”
The Minister also said the government is taking significant steps to support the education, training, and empowerment of adolescent girls in the country.
Originally focused on seven States, he said this program is expanding to include 11 additional States.
He said the goal is to empower girls between the ages of 10 and 20 in these participating states.
He said this initiative aligns with the government’s mission to reduce the number of out-of-school girls and improve their prospects in society.