(LINA) – Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) Executive Director James Jallah has frowned at the low-level of compliance with procurement requirements in the public sector.

He observed that of the 131 public entities executing budgets of a minimum of US$240,000 and above, only 45 percent has submitted their procurement plan to the PPCC.

“This is an indication that 55 percent of entities receiving funding under core budgetary line has not submitted to the PPCC process,” Jallah told participants at the orientation of 35 in-service trainees in procurement at the Liberia Institute of Public Administration (LIPA).

He noted that the lack of compliance by those public entities poses risk to the country’s financial management system because they will not execute their procurement activities in line with PPCC guidelines, which in most cases leads to loss of public funds.

Jallah added that to address the ongoing situation with public institution, the PPCC will require that all procurement plans be submitted at least three months before the passage of the next annual budget.

He challenged participants to take the training seriously as the country relies on them to effect change that will make procurement a vibrant and professional course.

LIPA Wednesday began the eighth class for the training of 35 procurement personnel drawn from 20 public institutions.
The World Bank-funded training program will last for two-weeks.