Era of govts. awarding contracts for transaction sake is over ---BPP


Era of govts. awarding contracts for transaction sake is over ---BPP


By Ifeanyi Olannye 

Asaba -  Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) has warned that the era of states government awarding contracts for transaction sake is over in Nigeria.


Adedokun gave the warning while speaking in an interview with the newsmen after delivery a lecture at a 2-Day Public Procurement Enlightenment Workshop for Top Government Finctionaries which began on Wednesday, ended on Thursday in Asaba, Delta.


The workshop with the theme; "Understanding the Delta State Public Procurement Law 2020, was organised by the Delta Government to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in procurement process in the state 


The BPP boss, who delivered a lecture on Professionalism in Public Procurement in Nigeria, urged the governments to comply with due process or face jail term.


According to him, the era of awarding contracts for transactions sake is over, you must award and you must perform.


"We demand that projects must be advertised, published, with known  contractor, the beneficiary and the duration of the project must be clare.


"We encourage the legislature to assist in making appropriate laws that will safeguard our national resources and give citizens reason why they should trust government.


"Procurement enables citizens to trust government, where it is not done properly, citizens will doubt the credibility of government".


Adedokun said that President Bola Tinubu has empowered state governments to make more money, adding that states were also demanded to effectively utilize theos funds for the benefits of the citizens.


He noted that the agenda of the President was that federal and states governments should collaborate on public procurement to ensure efficiency in the management of the increasing resources across the country. 


"So, because of this agenda, the BPP and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission(ICPC) are here on invitation of Delta Government to the workshop to inform them about the rules governing public procurement, conditions, offences, corrections where they are found wanting. 


"We came to correct mistakes in running of procurement in Delta, we focused on professionalism in public procurement at the state level, utilisation of fund for the benefit of the citizens of Delta State.


"Anybody who chooses to ignore procurement is like the saying that the law sleeps while you are in power but when you are out of power, the law will wake up.


"If you don't comply with procurement rules, when you are out of power, the law will be able to ask you questions and demand accountability," he said. 


He warned the procuring state and officers to the anxious of how they utilise government fund and the contracts awarded lest they would account while in service or out of office. 


"More importantly is that when they fail to plan, it is a criminal offense like the ICPC act. 


"Fundamental is that public procurement officers must check what they have been doing, clarify issues and ensure that due process is fully complied with," he said. 


He noted that with the autonomy of the local government given, it was also the duty of the state public procurement commission to ensure that the LGs follow due process. 


He said: "It is not an option. Any local government officer that chooses not to comply with due process, the law will come after them and they will have to account. 


"The era of awarding contracts for transactions sake is over, you must award and you must perform. 


"We are also concerned about any contractor that abandons project. Government has authority to debar such contractor nationally, statewide and globally. 


"So, contractors should be interested and be conscious that they can not afford to abandon projects where they have been fully funded.


Adedokun said that they were in Delta to educate the officers on the  consequences of not complying with due process. 


"We hope to return to check how far they have improved based on this meeting to see how projects are being implemented in line with due process. Due process is the safest guard to avoiding jail term," the BPP said

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