The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has commenced discussions with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement on the proposed review of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
A statement issued by Zira Nagga, BPP’s head of media and public relations in Abuja on Thursday, said the discussions were held at a strategic retreat with the House committee members in Abuja.
The statement said the collaborative session underscored the shared commitment of the BPP and the House Committee to drive reforms that would improve governance, promote sustainable development, and build public trust in Nigeria’s procurement system.
It said the retreat concluded with an agreement to sustain engagements and technical consultations to ensure that the proposed revised Act provides a robust legal framework for effective public procurement management in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, who spoke at the retreat, stressed the need to align procurement laws with current realities to foster accountability and value for money in government expenditure.
Adedokun said that the review of the Procurement Act was expected to modernise procurement processes, address emerging challenges, strengthen oversight, and align Nigeria’s framework with international best practices.
He emphasised the crucial role of the BPP in ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s procurement process.
Adedokun also highlighted the role of the leadership of the House Committee on Public Procurement, commending its strategic oversight of the bureau’s activities and its contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s public procurement system.
Rep. Idem Uyime, Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to partnering with the bureau to deliver a modernized procurement law that will strengthen institutional capacity and foster sustainable development.
Uyime said that the committee would provide the necessary legislative support to ensure the successful passage of the revised legislation.
Newsextra24 reports that the Public Procurement Act, 2007, had been amended in part through the Finance Acts of 2021 and 2023.
The amendments expanded the scope of the Act to include government-owned enterprises, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary.
The amendment also increased the mobilisation fee for contractors from 15 percent to 30 percent and reduced advertisement timelines for National Competitive Bidding (NCB) and International Competitive Bidding (ICB) to a maximum of four weeks and six weeks.
It also introduced bank guarantees of not less than 10 percent of contract values.
