FG, BPP to address MDAS’ capacity challenges in procurement process

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HE Federal Government, in conjunction with the Bureau of Public Procurement ( BPP), is working with some agencies of government to address specific structural and capacity challenges in their procurement processes.

Specifically, BPP said it has recorded improvements in the implementation of public procurement and public funds expenditure for procurement officers. However, BPP would work with the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation to enforce and apply appropriate sanctions on Agencies using uncertified Procurement Officers as against the circular.

BPP Director- General, Mamman Ahmadu, disclosed this at the three- day conversion course for procurement officers in Lagos. “In the same vein, as part of the procurement reform, FG with support from the World Bank has approved six centres of excellence across the six geo- political zones to train and have graduates at the Master, Post Graduate Diploma and advanced certificates in procurement, environmental and social safety for both the public and private sectors. This is also to support the present efforts of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Ahmadu, said this year’s training programme for officers converting to the procurement cadre in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies ( MDAS) will institutionalize procurement reform in the Federal Civil Service.

According to him, the programme was designed to develop capacity for Procurement Officers in the MDAS, entrench professionalism and ensure that public procurement decisions by procurement experts are in line with strict provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, ( PPA).

The conversion training is one in the series of capacity development and training programmes organised by the BPP on a yearly basis to ensure that the public procurement system fulfils its purpose in a way that the Federal Government ensures the right allocation or use of resources.

This, according to Ahmadu, is why the BPP is busy strengthening the Public Procurement

Reform through continuous training.

Ahmadu, who was represented by Director Energy Infrastructure, Bureau of Public Procurement ( BPP), Babatunde Kuye, said some of the improvements in the Public Procurement and expenditure of public funds, is that due process as listed in the Public Procurement Act, 2007 is now followed in the award of contracts.

“You will recall that the nine essential steps of public procurement start with efficient procurement plan driven by needs assessment. Then, there has to be

Adequate Appropriation, followed by Advertisement, and Transparent Pre- qualification.

“Bid Submission and Bid Opening Process followed by Bid Evaluation process have to take place as well. Afterwards we have Tender Board or Federal Executive Council ( FEC) Approval, and then Contract Execution. This is becoming entrenched in the Public Service as good credit for the reform,” he said.

He disclosed that only certified Procurement Officers will be allowed to be posted as Procurement Officers.