The House of Representatives urged the Federal Government, on Thursday, to increase the yearly budgetary allocation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to enable it to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate.
The BPP is the regulatory authority responsible for monitoring and overseeing public procurement, harmonising existing government policies and practices by regulating, setting standards, and developing the legal framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria.
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Unyime Idem.
In his lead debate, Idem harped on the need for the attainment of transparency, competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, value-for-money and professionalism in the public sector procurement system.
“The House 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.
“The House further notes that the Bureau is empowered to, among 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 geopolitical zones.
“The House is aware that the budgetary allocation for the Bureau in the Appropriation Act, 2024 is N2.200 million.
“The House is 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.
“The House is also concerned that given the prevailing trend of procurement corruption in Nigeria, constituting over 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.
“The House is cognizant that the increasing rate of procurement corruption in the public sector necessitate urgent measures for effective oversight to ensure value-for-money, transparency, competitiveness and professionalism.”
To this end, the House urged 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 Bureau of Public Procurement 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 tor public procurement in Nigeria tor the holistic development ot our beloved country.
After the debate, the House mandated the joint Committees on Public Procurement and Appropriations, to follow-up and ensure upward review of the Bureau’s budgetary allocation in subsequent budget estimates; and
The House also mandated its 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.
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