Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday threatened that the upper chamber will deal with any ministry, department or agency of government that is violating the public procurement law.
He said the law compels MDAs to give preference to locally produced goods in the country.
The Senate president asked committee chairmen to ensure in the course of their oversight duties that MDAs complied with the provision of the law on patronage of local manufacturers.
He urged military and para-military agencies to emulate the Army by procuring items like booths and other needs locally.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha said the Senate President spoke when members of the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEAPMAAS) visited him to express appreciation for the constant support he and the Senate have given to the Buy Made in Nigeria campaign.
Responding to the address by the association’s coordinator Chief Ben Hart, Saraki said government spends more than N2 trillion annually in the purchase of goods.
He said that the aim of the Senate is to ensure that a large chunk of the funds go into the pocket of Nigerian manufacturers.
He advised local manufacturers to petition the Senate if a government agency was deliberating denying them the opportunity to sell their goods as he said the law-making institution was ready to take up such cases.
He said: “I commend you for your determination and creativity. When I came for your trade fair in Abuja earlier in the year, I promised you that with the support of my colleagues here in the Senate, we will make the campaign to buy Made in Nigeria go beyond a trade fair and become a national agenda for all Nigerians.
“Today, we have made it a national project. I also promised you that we will amend the existing law to give your efforts a solid legal backing that will ensure patronage for your products and that of other local manufacturers. That has also been done with the amendment of the Public Procurement Act.
“I have a promise from the House of Representatives that they will soon pass the same law. Government agencies must necessarily and compulsorily patronise locally made goods.”
Leader of the delegation said that they were at the National Assembly to commend the Senate President, the senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe and other senators for their support in promoting the Made in Aba goods.