The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has expressed concern over low procurement compliance at government institutions, ministries, and state-owned entities.

About 70% to 80% of ministries have decentralised their functions to the regions since the adoption of the Decentralisation Policy in 1997.

This is according to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development officials, who have called on those lagging behind to improve.

The Ministries of Fisheries and Labour signed an agreement with two fishing companies to re-employ part of the 1130 unemployed fishermen who lost their jobs eight years ago.

The signing comes after a few delays in the Attorney General's office reviewing the contracts.