By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to review the budgetary allocation of the Bureau of Public Procurement in line with current realities in subsequent budget estimates to enable successful discharge of the Bureau’s core mandate.
The House also urged the BPP to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and the National Assembly to enhance the provision of a legal and institutional framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria for the holistic development of Nigeria.
This was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Unyime Idem, on “the need to review the budgetary allocation of the Bureau of Public Procurement”, on Thursday at plenary.
Leading the debate, Rep. Idem said that there is a need for the attainment of transparency, competitiveness, cost effectiveness, value-for-money, and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.
The motion reads: “Also notes that the Public Procurement Act 2007 established the Bureau of Public Procurement as the regulatory authority responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement, harmonizing the existing government policies and practices by regulating, setting standards and developing the legal framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria. “Further notes that the Bureau is empowered to, amdng other things, oversight over 800 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to ensure the implementation of established procurement policies, and due process compliance. The House recognizes the needs to ensure monitoring and surveillance of Federal Government Procurement Procedures and ongoing projects across the six serene zones”.
He explained that the budgetary allocation for the Bureau in the Appropriation Act 2024, is N2.2 billion.
“Concerned that the existing funds provided for the Bureau is grossly inadequate to meet the extensive responsibilities of the procurement audits, monitoring and surveillance in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the six geopolitical zones of the nation.
“Also concerned that given the prevailing trend of procurement irregularities in Nigeria, constituting over 70% of corruption in the public sector, there is an increasing need to ensure the implementation of procurement, policies, and due process compliance, in line with global best practices.
“Cognizant that the increasing rate of procurement corruption in the public sector necessitates urgent measures for effective oversight to ensure value-for-money, transparency, competitiveness and professionalism.”
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated the Committees on Public Procurement and Appropriations to follow up and ensure an upward review of the Bureau’s budgetary allocation in subsequent budget estimates.