The federal government has inaugurated a committee to review the Public Procurement Act 2007 in alignment with the country’s current economic realities.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, in his inaugural speech, recalled that the Public Procurement Act 2007 was signed into law on June 4, 2007, by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua.
He noted that the Act provides the legal and institutional framework for the enthronement of transparency, accountability, value for money, and efficiency in the procurement of works, goods, and services within the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The Committee has one month to complete this assignment, as stated by the Head of Information, SGF Office, Segun Imohiosen.
The Public Procurement Act 2023 established the National Council on Public Procurement and the Bureau of Public Procurement as the regulatory authorities responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement. It harmonizes existing government policies and practices by regulating, setting standards, and developing the legal framework and professional capacity for public procurement in Nigeria and related matters.
Akume noted that having implemented the Public Procurement Act for over 15 years, this Administration has seen the need to review and strengthen the provisions of the Act to make it more responsive to the needs of the people.
He added that this review aims to ensure realistic procurement outcomes in the face of current economic realities and to enhance budget implementation and the ease of doing business.
The membership of the Committee includes the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, who is the Chairman. Other members include the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Representative of the World Bank, Messrs KPMG Nigeria – Technical Consultants, and the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs Office, who is a member/Secretary.
Akume listed the terms of reference of the Committee, including undertaking a holistic review of the Public Procurement Act 2007 by identifying key impediments militating against compliance with the Act. “Make recommendations that will strengthen the provisions of the Act to ensure transparency, accountability, value for money, efficiency, and timely delivery in the procurement of works, goods, and services by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies; “Develop a draft amendment Bill for consideration by the Federal Executive Council and any other assignment as may be directed by the President.
The SGF urged members of the committee not to relent in the discharge of this huge task of reviewing the Public Procurement Act, which will make public procurement processes seamless to deliver public goods and services.
The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu, who spoke on behalf of the members of the newly inaugurated committee, disclosed that his agency had already begun the internal review process and would work efficiently to actualize the committee’s objectives.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
