29th May, 2024
The Network for the Actualisation of Social Growth and Viable Development (NEFGAD) has strongly criticized the President of the Senate, Dr. Godswill Akpabio, for his recent call to amend the Public Procurement Act, which he claims is necessary to expedite project completion.
In a statement signed by NEFGAD’s country head of office, Mr. Akingunola Omoniyi, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the organization addressed Akpabio’s remarks urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to submit an amendment bill for the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act. Akpabio argued that changes to the act would improve the budgeting process for projects across Nigeria.
Mr. Akingunola countered these claims, stating that the Public Procurement Act is not designed to delay national budgets or public projects. He highlighted that the only mandatory timeline in the Act is the three-week period for bid solicitation and advertisement, which is intended to promote competition and economic efficiency.
“Over time, corrupt politicians have frequently blamed their inability to exert undue influence over public procurement processes on the Public Procurement Act,” Mr. Akingunola argued. He asserted that, aside from the three-week bid solicitation timeline, other procurement procedures leading to the final award of contracts are at the discretion of the procuring entities. Thus, Akpabio’s assertion that the Public Procurement Act slows down budget and project implementation is entirely unfounded.
Mr. Akingunola emphasized that the Act is only viewed as a hindrance by public officers with ulterior motives who seek to push through their private agendas illegally and at an imprudent pace. He stated, “Mr. Akpabio’s assertion is wrong, except for those officers looking for crooked ways to actualize their private agenda at the speed of light.”
In conclusion, Mr. Akingunola vowed that NEFGAD would mobilize Nigerians and procurement stakeholders to resist any attempts to undermine the Public Procurement Act.