Abuja (Office of the Vice President Report) – President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has directed the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) not to allow contractors not in its database to do contract business of any sort with the Federal Government from the 2015 financial year.
The President represented by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo made this known on Monday November 11, 2014 when he declared open the first National Conference on Public Procurement (NACOPP) with the theme: “Public Procurement: A tool for Good Governance” in Abuja.
The President remarked that the directive followed BPP’s categorisation and classification of federal contractors and service providers into equal competences and capacities for bidding purposes. He also said that any company debarred by the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and UNDP as well as other development partners stands automatically debarred from contracting processes in Nigeria.
“This action is intended to eliminate distortions in bidding costs that tend to create the impression that project costs in Nigeria are higher than in other countries,” he said. President Jonathan noted that reforms in the procurement process have yielded positive results on the economy; adding that being a good governance tool, procurement reform has enhanced the activities of other agencies of government. He further revealed that as a first in the world, Nigeria is setting up the first International Procurement Platform to facilitate the interface between regulatory authorities, procuring entities and service providers.
While reaffirming his commitment to more strengthening of the BPP, he commended the 24 States which have passed their procurement laws, charging the remaining 12 to urgently follow. He also urged all the States to give adequate protection to the regulatory agencies to enable them effectively discharge their duties. “It is important to reiterate that Nigeria runs one economy and therefore the need for one set of rules governing our contracting processes cannot be over emphasised,” the President hinted.
According to him, all the States that are yet to pass the law are to pass them while those that have passed the law are urged to strengthen them, in order to ensure delivery of services at best cost to the people.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Dr) informed that BPP as an important agency of government serves as tool for fiscal saving and transparency. She called on stakeholders to support the Bureau in the discharge of its functions.
In his address, the Director-General of BPP, Emeka Eze explained that the conference was intended to bring all States of the federation to subscribe to one set of national procedure in public procurement. Adding, as part of its mandate to reduce the scope of corruption and improve efficiency in the system, the Bureau from year 2009 to date has saved the country over N528 billion wastes through project reviews.
Emeka Eze disclosed that BPP has recommended over 180 companies to the ICPC and the EFCC for investigation on fraudulent activities. “The Public Procurement Act enacted in 2007 established the BPP and charged it with the responsibility to amongst others provide legal and institutional framework as well as professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria,” he pointed.
“The 1st National Conference on Public Procurement which is holding in Abuja from November 10 – 11, 2014 is being hosted by the National Public Procurement Forum (NPPF) and implemented by the National Planning Committee with support from BPP.”
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate