The House of Representatives has called for an increase in the budget of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, to review and increase the budgetary allocation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
The House highlighted that the bureau’s budget must align with the nation’s current realities in subsequent budget estimates, ensuring that it can effectively carry out its core mandate.
The House also urged the bureau to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) 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.
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These resolutions came as a result of a motion sponsored by Rep. Unyime Idem (PDP Akwa Ibom), who emphasized the need to empower the bureau to maintain transparency, competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and professionalism within the public sector procurement system.
Idem noted that the BPP, established under the Public Procurement Act of 2007, serves as the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing public procurement across over 800 MDAs in Nigeria.
Need for enhanced budgetary allocation
Leading the debate, Rep. Idem expressed concern that the current budgetary allocation of N2.2 billion in the 2024 Appropriation Act is grossly inadequate to meet the bureau’s extensive responsibilities. These responsibilities include procurement audits, monitoring, and surveillance across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, where procurement activities are closely tied to development projects.
The lawmaker emphasised 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.”
He further highlighted the importance of the bureau’s role in upholding standards and preventing procurement corruption, which currently constitutes over 70 percent of corruption in the public sector.
Addressing procurement irregularities
The lawmaker stressed the urgency of addressing procurement irregularities in Nigeria, which significantly undermines the country’s development efforts.
Given the pervasive corruption trends, Rep. Idem emphasized the need for effective oversight and compliance with procurement policies. “We must ensure that our procurement processes deliver value-for-money, transparency, and competitiveness, in line with global best practices,” he added.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated its committees on public procurement and appropriations and national planning, to follow-up and ensure upward review of the bureau’s budgetary allocation in subsequent budget estimates.
STAR Check: Nigerians, particularly, constituents of Ukanafun/Oruk Anam federal constituency, can keep tabs on the legislative performance of Rep. Idem throughout the 10th House here
