BPP to utilise modern tech in public procurement

Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mamman Ahmadu, has said that they will utilize modern technology in public procurement to further the ongoing reform process.

The BPP boss who spoke at the zonal stakeholders’ workshop on the development of the Category Matrix for the National Database of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers (CCSP) in Abuja, stated that the whole world is going “E” in the public procurement process thus Nigeria has also joined the rest of the world to ensure that the best global practices in public procurement process was strictly adhered to by going digital.

He said the move is in order to allow for more participation, efficiency and transparency to ensure that the public procurement reform received the needed attention and to deliver ultimately for the good of the country.

The DG further emphasised the need for all professional bodies to be fully involved in the reform process.

He stated that 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 specialisation, high performance in public procurement and reduced cost of tendering.

Suleiman Hassan Zarma, Minister of State, Works, also emphasized the critical nature of the categorisation matrix, stating that it will allow for a more robust participation of all stakeholders to give room for specialisation in their different fields of expertise.

He also stated the need to ensure that in the categorisation matrix, local contractors are also considered due to their fundamental role in the infrastructural development process of the country.