NNH Editorial Board
Abuja, Nigeria – The recent 2-day Procurement Clinic organized by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) marks yet another official effort to streamline Nigeria’s public procurement processes. The event, designed for procurement officers across federal MDAs, emphasized training on planning, record keeping, and e-advertisement. But beyond the well-worded speeches and good intentions, there’s an elephant in the room: lopsided procurement practices and regional disparity in project allocation.
What the Clinic Said — And What It Didn’t
Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, Director-General of BPP, made compelling points about aligning procurement with national goals, leveraging technology, and upholding professionalism. He quoted Section 5(k) of the Public Procurement Act (2007), which mandates BPP to build capacity in procurement functions — a function rightly exercised through this training.
However, the Clinic failed to confront the festering systemic issues that have long plagued Nigeria’s procurement space:
Skewed allocation of federal projects to particular geopolitical zones.
Rampant abuse of emergency procurement clauses.
Low-level compliance with competitive bidding procedures.
Minimal engagement with the Nigeria Open Contracting Portal (NOCOPO) by many MDAs.
Persistent corruption and political interference in procurement outcomes.
These are not just technical oversights — they are breaches of the constitutional ethos of federal character and fairness.
Senate Resolution: A Ticking Bomb for BPP and MDAs
The Nigerian Senate’s recent resolution mandating its Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to investigate the lopsided award of projects nationwide sends a direct signal to BPP: the era of business as usual is over.
This inquiry, if thoroughly executed, could bring to light decades of imbalanced development resulting from flawed procurement and budgeting processes. The Senate’s motion aligns with the Federal Character Principle enshrined in Sections 14(3) and 153(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which calls for:
“The composition of the government of the federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria…”
In simple terms, procurement is not just about cost-efficiency—it’s about justice and inclusion.
The Missing Framework: Section 16 of the Procurement Act
While the Clinic reiterated BPP’s training functions, it failed to emphasize Section 16 (1)(b)(c)(d) of the Public Procurement Act, which mandates:
Full transparency in the procurement process,
Equal opportunity for qualified bidders,
Promotion of competition, economy, and efficiency.
Are these principles being respected when 80% of capital projects are disproportionately allocated to select states or zones? If not, training without enforcement is like sharpening a knife never meant to cut.
Global Lessons: Who Should Nigeria Learn From?
Chile’s procurement system, “ChileCompra,” stands out as a global gold standard. With its public e-platform, anyone can track tenders, awards, and implementation status in real-time. It is citizen-centric, transparent, and corruption-resistant — three values Nigeria desperately needs.
South Korea’s “KONEPS” system also deserves mention, as it integrates budgeting, procurement, and payment platforms, ensuring all contract data is visible and traceable by both regulators and the public.
If Nigeria wants to mirror best practices, it must move from manual and fragmented systems to full digital transparency, backed by legal consequences for breaches.
The Real Reform Nigeria Needs
Workshops, while noble, are only a band-aid over a deep institutional wound. What Nigeria needs is:
An independent procurement oversight agency, insulated from political interference.
Real-time public access to procurement decisions, awards, and contractor performance metrics.
Full enforcement of the NOCOPO platform — make usage mandatory with legal sanctions.
Annual Procurement Equity Audits, made public and debated in the National Assembly.
Until these measures are in place, procurement clinics will remain like a doctor giving lectures while patients are bleeding on the floor.
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