The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), yesterday said it has reviewed its standard bidding and contract documents to ensure transparency, competition, cost effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector e-procurement system.
The Director-General, BPP, Mamman Ahmadu, said this at a stakeholders’ workshop on the review in Abuja.
Ahmadu said the move is to address the inadequacies observed by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the use of the current documents, which were developed in 2009 and last updated in 2011.
The workshop was organised by the BPP to strengthen the on-going procurement reform in Nigeria, noting that the local procurement space has changed significantly, thereby necessitating a review.
“Since the development of the existing standard bidding documents in 2009, a lot has happened in the procurement space both locally and internationally.
“Notably, the global economic meltdown, the global pandemic brought about by COVID-19, rapid advancement in technology, advancement in procurement practice globally, just to mention a few.
“This is mandated to prepare and update standard bidding and contract documents with the aim of achieving its objectives of transparency, competition, cost effectiveness and professionalism.
“The use of these documents over the years has thrown up lessons borne out of challenges encountered by the public and private sector actors in the conduct of public procurement in the country.
“This is with a view to bringing them up to date with the current international best practices, while ensuring that domestic interests are well taken care of for the purpose of national development,” he said.
Ahmadu also informed that the draft documents were produced and shared with relevant procurement stakeholders ahead of the workshop.
According to him, the BPP has held similar workshops in Rivers, Kano, Lagos and the FCT for the grand finale.
He urged stakeholders to participate actively, submit comments, observations, advice and feedback at the various breakout sessions that would be held during the workshop.
“This is with the aim of creating an opportunity to harvest valuable inputs from all public procurement stakeholders.
“To also discuss the key clauses of interests, synergise various perspectives and incorporate them in the documents being reviewed and developed,” he said.
The use of these documents over the years has thrown up lessons borne out of challenges encountered by the public and private sector actors in the conduct of public procurement in the country.
E-procurement
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr William Alo, said e-procurement process is essential for economic growth.
Alo said this was particularly necessary in carrying out government procurement functions, adding that the Ministry is at the forefront of driving the adoption of ICT in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He said the e-procurement process is carried out in line with the principal hallmarks of proficient public procurement, economy, efficiency, fitness, reliability, transparency and accountability.
Alo said the economic downturn in the country made it imperative to ensure the creation of more value in the utilisation of scarce resources to enhance development in Nigeria.
“I hope that this review will incorporate the e-procurement processes, because a good procurement system will ensure value for money.
“Our scarce resources will be managed and above all, good procurement reduces to the barest minimum corruption, which is endemic in the system,” he said.
The breakout session of the event was grouped into four categories of goods, works, services and ICT, to enlighten stakeholders to have a better understanding of the e-procurement. (NAN)
