2021 Open Contracting Champion: Joshua Olufemi
What does changing the status quo in public procurement mean to you?
Changing the status quo in public procurement means having all procurement documents—from the needs assessment down to the project implementation assessment and audit—available to the public, and in an open format. Above and beyond making public procurement data or documents accessible to citizens, though, the new normal in public procurement should be grassroots citizen participation in deciding which infrastructural development is a priority for every budgeting cycle.
What is one thing you would say to an open contracting reformer who wants to break with tradition?
Make an effort to institutionalize a face-to-face engagement between citizens and the public procurement agencies to promote openness and accountability in government contracting.
What’s your go-to resource for public procurement?
Dataphyte, Budeshi, and the Open Treasury Portal are my go-to resources in Nigeria.
If public procurement was a sport, which one do you think it would be and why?
Darts. Points are scored by hitting specific marks (preciseness with the provision of public infrastructure and social services demanded by citizens), and the game is standardized (guided by a set of rules such as public procurement legislation or policy) and competitive (undergoes and effectiveness tests of fairness, technical capacity, and value for money).
