The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Procurement

  • Public Procurement Act for review

    Public Procurement Act for review

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday set up a committee to review Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act.

    The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed this while speaking to reporters at the State House, Abuja, after the Council’s meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    According to Bagudu, the committee is to be chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    Read Also: We are studying presidential pronouncement on food import, says Customs

    Bagudu further disclosed that President Tinubu also adirected that all ministries, departments and agencies should review their intended procurement, as provided for in the Appropriation Act, such as to bridge the gaps between appropriated sums and sums required to execute the projects.

  • Lagos deepens procurement skills

    Lagos deepens procurement skills

    Chairman, Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC), Mrs Olubunmi Fabamwo, has told the state procurement workers the government attaches much importance to their work.

    She said it was for this that the commission, as part of its career week, decided to equip them with more knowledge and skills required to excel.

    She stated this during the opening of the three-day programme held for procurement officers at the Public Service Development Centre, Magodo.

    Head of Service (HoS), Olabode Agoro, who praised the theme of the week, “Understanding the Public Procurement flow in the Lagos Public Service” recalled that the week was the third in the series.

    He also praised the commission for introducing it, adding that it would build workers’ capacity and enhance their productivity.

    He said procurement cuts across all government’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs), and because it involves the spending of public funds or tax payers’ money, there was the need for the officers to imbibe the virtues of honesty, transparency, efficiency, integrity, probity, among others, in the execution of their duties.

    Agoro, 22nd HoS in Lagos, reminded the workers that they are the sole implementors of government’s policies and programmes. As such, they should “put the best foot forward and be on top of their games” at all times. They should also be abreast of the necessary information in their sector and of global trends.

    Read Also: Naira to close strong on $34.8b year-end diaspora remittances target

    Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Establishments, Training, Pensions and Public Service, Oladele Ajayi, praised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Femi Hamzat, for their commitment to government workers’ welfare.

    He assured of his committee’s assistance to government’s workers.

    Director-General, Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC), Fatai Idowu Onafowote, went memory lane, saying the procurement law was passed in the country in 2011 and amended two years ago, only Lagos had implementing it.

    As a new area, procurement should be done professionally, he added. He charged the workers on its core values.

  • Lagos challenges workers on procurement, others

    The Lagos State Government has asked its workers in public service to keep pursuing quality in procurement decisions, and keep cost under control in the face of daunting economic challenges.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Akintola Benson-Oke, gave this advice during a training tagged: “Public Procurement in a Depressed Economy: Emerging Issues and Challenges” facilitated by Midas Partners in Lagos.

    Ambode urged the officers to come up with data-backed and data-inspired ideas that will ensure and assure the quality of the government’s procurement activities.

    He said the training’s theme has far-reaching ramifications for both  medium and long-term health of the government of Lagos State,

    He emphasised the need to maintain and pursue quality and briefly examine how procurement decisions cannot only be creatively tailored to fit into available lean resources in a depressed economy, but also be used as an instrument to chart the course out of economic depression.

    He said: “In arguing for the pursuit of quality even in the face of a depressed economy, I am convinced that the delivery of value to citizens is the fundamental objective of any democratically-elected government and that, in contemporary times, the delivered value must be delivered to the highest possible standard because citizens have become sophisticated and exposed to the standards of governance in other climes such that their expectations have been conditioned to demand and insist on compliance with global trends in governance and public administration at all levels of governance. Meeting these expectations is the central challenge for governments in contemporary times, even in the face of lean resources.

    “Governments on its part must decide what to measure and how, always with an eye on the overall goal of the programme or initiative. For one, a critical examination will reveal how civil servants can creatively utilise data to generate ideas and communicate government actions and performances in order to ensure positive perception or, in the least, accurate perception of government procurement decisions by the citizens. I therefore, challenge the Lagos State Public Service to come up with data-backed and data-inspired ideas that will ensure and assure the quality of the government’s procurement activities.

    “Another advocated strategy for ensuring the delivery of quality services by the public service including in the area of procurement, is to innovate to make government services more customer-centric. This is one of the subjects that have been previously explored in the trainings organised by the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions. Procurement decisions would only be regarded as being of acceptable quality when they are made with the end-user in mind. I dare say that, even in procuring items that would be exclusively used by public servants, the sole question should be whether the procured items would help the public service better serve its customer, the citizens.”

    He added that there are challenges encountered in strategic public procurement. “Indeed, there are a number of challenges that are faced when rolling out strategic public procurement. For instance, a lack of understanding of the benefits of sustainable procurement among politicians and budget holders is a challenge.

  • BPP to deploy modern technology in procurement

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) will henceforth use modern technology in public procurement to further the reform process.

    Its Director-General, Mamman Ahmadu, made the promise at the Zonal Stakeholder Workshop on the Development of the Category Matrix for the National Database of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers (CCSP) in Abuja yesterday.

    He said since  the whole world is going “E” in the public procurement process, Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to ensure that the best global practices in public procurement process is strictly adhered to by going digital. He said going digital will allow for more participation, efficiency and transparency to ensure that the public procurement reform receives the needed attention and to deliver ultimately for the good of the country.

    Ahmadu advocated for all “professional bodies to be fully involved in the reform process.” He said: “The Public Procurement Act (PPA, 2007) Sections 5j, 5q and 6j dictate the need for Classification, Categorisation of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers (CCSP) in order to enhance specilalisation, high performance in public procurement and reduce cost of tendering.”

     

  • REA gets nod on procurement through PPP

    THE Federal Government has given the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) the nod to provide electricity to rural areas using hybrid solar systems, which would be procured using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

    Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) Director-General, Mr Chidi Izuwah made this known in a statement.

    According to him, the commission has issued an Outline Business Case (OBC) and Full Business Case (FBC) compliance certificate for the project.

    Izuwah said the compliance certificates issued by the ICRC meant that the project proposal as presented by the REA was economically viable and of huge benefit to the country.

    “In support of this noble objective of government, we in the ICRC today issued a joint OBC and FBC compliance certificate to enable the REA commence a pilot long term PPP.

    “The focus will be on providing affordable and economically rewarding hybrid solar power to some rural communities. On successful completion of the pilot, massive roll out will occur nationwide,’’ he said.

    Izuwah said the certificate was received by Dr Sanusi Ohiare, the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund of the REA, on behalf of the Managing Director of REA, Mrs Damilola Ogunbiyi.

    The African Development Bank (AfDB) had said one of the biggest constraints to competitiveness, economic growth and diversification in Nigeria was the crippling infrastructure deficit.

    According to the bank, the crippling infrastructure is estimated at about 300 billion dollars.

    Given the government’s limited access to international debt, revenue constraints and competing priorities, PPP remains the sustainable option for the country.

  • Procurement bureau asks surveyors to fight graft

    The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has charged members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to tackle corruption in the industry.

    Its Director-General, Mamman Ahmadu, spoke when the institute’s  executives, led by its President, Mr. Femi Onashile,  visited him in Abuja.

    The BPP chief praised the NIQS for its readiness to partner Federal Government’s agencies to reduce construction costs and ensure compliance with best practices.

    According to Ahmadu,  corruption cuts across ministries and agencies, saying it was high time professionals, particularly cost experts in construction, did more than talking to check corruption.

    He urged professional bodies to punish members found guilty of corruption.

    Onashile canvassed the adoption of stricter project monitoring.

    He said by limiting BPP’s oversight to due diligence at pre-award stage of projects and not  monitoring the projects, corruption would thrive.

    “For BPP to make better impact in delivering value-for-money, it must take its oversight influence beyond the pre-award of contracts; even throughout the construction phase of the projects. This is to ensure that approvals are not circumvented through the possible corrupt compromise of either quality standards or the specified sizes of such projects or both to reduce the actual costs without passing the cost reduction to the government,” Onashile said.

    He implored the BPP to develop an alternative contract form, adding that while the one they are using is working well in civil engineering projects, it is not in building projects.

    Acknowledging BPP’s effort in fast-tracking due diligence and ensuring faster take off of projects, the NIQS chief called for the engagement of more quantity surveyors in the agency to enable it discharge its oversight effectively.

    “We believe as experts in cost and procurement management of capital projects from conception to completion, we have vital roles to play in prudent costing of projects, procurement management and project monitoring to ensure better earned value for money,” Onashile added.

    Meanwhile, BPP has employed a transaction adviser on  contracts.

    By this, BPP hopes to cut the cost of construction projects.

  • Buhari signs executive order to improve local content in procurement 

    Buhari signs executive order to improve local content in procurement 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja signed Executive Order 5 to improve local content in public procurement with science, engineering and technology components.

    The Executive Order, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, is expected to promote the application of science, technology and innovation towards achieving the nation’s development goals across all sectors of the economy.

    The President, pursuant to the authority vested in him by the Constitution, ordered that all ‘‘procuring authorities shall give preference to Nigerian companies and firms in the award of contracts, in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007.’’

    The Executive Order also prohibits the Ministry of Interior from giving visas to foreign workers whose skills are readily available in Nigeria.

    It, however, notes that where expertise is lacking, procuring entities will give preference to foreign companies and firms with a demonstrable and verifiable plan for indigenous development, prior to the award of such contracts.

    In the proclamation entitled ‘‘PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER 5 FOR PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF PROJECTS, PROMOTION OF NIGERIAN CONTENT IN CONTRACTS AND SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY,’’ the President also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to engage indigenous professionals in the planning, design and execution of national security projects.

    It added that ‘‘consideration shall only be given to a foreign professional, where it is certified by the appropriate authority that such expertise is not available in Nigeria.’’

  • ‘Lagos owes its prosperity to robust planning, procurement’

    ‘Lagos owes its prosperity to robust planning, procurement’

    Robust planning, procurement and budgeting techniques employed by  the Lagos State government made it a model and one of the strong economies in Africa.

    Its Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget Permanent Secretary, Mr. Kadiri Aboyomi Adebisi, who stated this in Lagos, said the state was  harmonising its planning and budgeting with stakeholders in view of her long-term strategic plan for 2025.

    He spoke at a sensitisation and advocacy workshop on planning reforms and procurement for the chairmen and legislative leaders in Lagos.

    He said the idea was to introduce officials of local governments to budget and planning, which are key to the state’s prosperity

    Adebisi added that the state government was harmonising the template to get every level of governance to have the same vision and plan.

    Earlier, Local Governments Auditor-General Mr. Olatunji Jimoh advised the local government chairmen on the need to translate their promises into concrete action. He urged them on the need for systematic allocation of resources on performance targets.

    Jimoh, who was represented by the Director, Planning, Research & Development Directorate, Rev. Mcewen Lamai, reiterated that no meaningful development could be achieved without proper planning and budgeting.

    Stressing the importance of budgeting, he said: “The approved budget is the expenditure authority derived from law, appropriation bill for an entity to apply specified funds from its revenue for identified purposes. The budget established authority for expenditure on specified items and the legal limit within which an entity must operate.”

  • Reps to probe presidential panel on arms procurement

    Reps to probe presidential panel on arms procurement

    The House of Representatives has mandated its committee on National Security and Intelligence to investigate a committee set up by the Presidency and Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on arms procurement.

    The resolution followed a motion under matter of urgent public importance by Rep. Chris Azibogu (PDP-Anambra), which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

    Moving the motion, the legislator said that the committee, set up by the Presidency on Aug. 31, 2015, had failed to submit its report months after the deadline for its assignment.

    “A similar committee was set up by NSA on Oct. 19, 2015 with a similar mandate and has covered more number of companies and submitted its report on Feb. 26, 2016.

    “The committee was able to verify more than 300 companies as indicated in the submitted report,’’ he said.

    He said the committee’s activities contradicted the  Federal Government’s circular which stipulates the remuneration of non-executive committees.

    “The circular is titled, ‘’’adherence on the guidelines on remuneration of non-executive and part-time chairmen, members and directors of governing boards of Federal Government parastatals, agencies and commissions’’  of Oct. 9, 2015 and Oct. 23, 2015.

    Azibogu urged ‘’ strict adherence on payment for hotel accommodation for such members and the committee based on the circular’’.

    He expressed dismay that the committee was accommodated at the expense of government without any results to show for it.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 13- member committee was set up on Aug. 31, 2015 to investigate the 2.1 billion dollars arms deals involving the former NSA, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

  • Senate passes Public Procurement Bill

    The Senate yesterday passed the Public Procurement Act, 2007 Amendment Bill .

    The bill, if assented to by the President, will, among other things, give priority to locally made goods in all government procurements.

    Presenting the report at plenary, the Chairman of the Procurement Committee, Senator Joshua Dariye said the essence of the bill was to provide for and adopt the local content policy.

    According to him, certain sections of the 2007 version of the Act had been amended to favour local manufacturers and ensure speedy completion of projects.

    Said he: “Similarly, the issue of disposal which is an integral aspect of procurement has been aptly captured by the amendment in the new sub-clause 1(e).

    “The committee has equally sustained the amendment to section 34(1,2) sought by the bill for the purpose of patronising made-in-Nigeria goods; this will go a long way to encourage our Nigerian manufacturers.