On Thursday, the House of Representatives called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, to reassess the budgetary allocation for the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). This review is aimed at aligning the allocation with current realities to ensure the Bureau can effectively fulfill its core mandate.
The House also encouraged the Bureau of Public Procurement to collaborate with various stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organizations, and the National Assembly. This collaboration is intended to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for public procurement and enhance professional capacity in Nigeria.
Furthermore, the House mandated its Committees on Public Procurement and Appropriations to monitor and advocate for an upward revision of the Bureau’s budget in future estimates.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion presented by Rep. Unyime Idem during plenary in Abuja. In his remarks, Idem highlighted the importance of achieving transparency, competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, value-for-money, and professionalism within the public sector procurement system.
He pointed out that the Public Procurement Act of 2007 established the Bureau as the regulatory authority responsible for monitoring and overseeing public procurement practices in Nigeria. The Bureau is tasked with harmonizing government policies, regulating standards, and developing the legal framework necessary for effective public procurement.
Idem emphasized the Bureau’s role in overseeing more than 800 MDAs to ensure compliance with established procurement policies and due process. He also stressed the need for effective monitoring and surveillance of federal procurement procedures and ongoing projects across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.