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, BPP, in subsequent budget estimates to enable successful discharge of the Bureau’s core mandate.
This, according to the House is necessitated by current realities.
It also directed 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 the country.
These were some of the resolutions reached by the Green Chamber during Thursday’s plenary, following a motion on the “need to review the budgetary allocation of the Bureau of Public Procurement”, presented by the member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency, Rep. Unyime Idem.
According to Idem, who is the chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, “the Bureau is by law empowered to, among other things, oversight Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), numbering over 800, to ensure the implementation of established procurement policies, and due process compliance.”
“The Bureau, beyond implementation of procurement policies, needs to ensure monitoring and surveillance of Federal Government Procurement Procedures and ongoing projects across the six geopolitical zones.”
“The budgetary allocation for the Bureau in the Appropriation Act, 2024 is One billion, eight hundred million naira only, which is grossly inadequate to meet the
extensive responsibilities of the Bureau, and ensure procurement audits, monitoring and surveillance in the over 800 MDAs and the six geopolitical zones of the nation.”
Idem also stressed that given the prevailing trend of procurement irregularities in Nigeria, constituting over 70% of irregularities in the public sector, there is an increasing need to ensure the implementation of procurement policies, due process compliance and effective oversight to ensure value-for-money, transparency, competitiveness and professionalism, in line with global best practices;
Following the concerns raised by the Ukanafun/Oruk Anam lawmaker, the House therefore mandated the Committees on Public Procurement and Appropriations, to follow-up and ensure upward review of the Bureau’s budgetary allocation in subsequent budget estimates.
It also directed the Committee on Public Procurement to conduct a thorough oversight and recommend appropriate measures that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Bureau and report within four weeks for further legislative action.
