The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has urged the Federal Government to involve professionals in procurement processes in the country’s budget.
The Registrar of the institute, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, made the call while speaking at the institute’s 2024 Group B Induction Ceremony in Abuja
Aliyu said there was need for government to professionalise procurement, as enshrined in the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
Aliyu said this would ensure best practices as well as value-for-money principles in government spending.
He said a World Bank study in conjunction with the institute’s procurement assessment report had shown that professionals were not assigned to handle procurement processes.
“That report revealed that 80 to 90 per cent of the total budget of the nation goes into contract, procurement and services.
“Attention should be given to the professionals to handle the procurement aspect of this country so that value can be derived from our money.
“You find that all sector specialists claim to be procurement professionals.
“The question is, this is an area that you are not lettered; you don’t have knowledge of it. How do you think you will do it to the satisfaction of the citizen?”
On his part, the institute’s coordinator for the North Central Zone, Dr. Abdul Mamman, called for the inauguration of the National Council of Public Procurement.
Mamman said that the establishment of a Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) without a council was a violation of the Public Procurement Act.
“Over time, there has been this roving issue between the Institute and the body established by an act of parliament, which is also the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
“We should work hand in hand because the Public Procurement Act has two administrative hierarchies.
“One is the National Council of Public Procurement, which is saddled with the responsibility of churning out policies and procedures for the bureau to also implement.
“But to our chagrin, up till this moment, since 2007, that is, the past 17 years, the government has not thought it wise to establish or inaugurate the council.”
He, therefore, emphasised the need for the training of professionals on the intricacies and technicalities of procurement processes.
The President of the institute, Alhaji Sikiru Balogun, charged the inductees to be ambassadors of the institute by manifesting integrity in their conduct, competence, and trustworthiness.
Balogun, represented by the first vice president of the institute, Bello Alkali, tasked the inductees to step into the world with a commitment to making changes in their profession.
One of the inductees, Mrs Ifeoluwapo Egweni, pledged to use the knowledge gained to be more professional in carrying out her duties.
“Going through this graduate course, I’ll be able to perform my duties at work more professionally.
“I will also apply the procurement best practices that I’ve learnt here to my career to make sure the government gets value for its money.
“And also, I’ll be able to change some certain practices that are not in line with what the government wants or what the institution has prescribed.”
A total of 453 members, after taking the oath of office, were inducted into the institute with the task of upholding its professional ethics.
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