TheCable

The senate has mandated its committee on public procurement to investigate the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) over its “corrupt” issuance of certificate of no objection.

The committee will also probe the alleged failure of the BPP to conduct mandatory post procurement audit.

The committee is expected to submit its report in five weeks.

The resolutions of the senate followed a motion sponsored by Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west.

Melaye said the failure of BPP not to conduct mandatory post procurement audit has impacted negatively on the national assembly’s functions of oversight.

He said that if the allegations were not investigated, the BPP would disrupt the country’s public procurement process.

“Procurement is responsible for over 70 percent of corruption in this country. To get the fight against corruption right, we must also get our procurement correctly,” Melaye said.

“In line with section 5, public procurement Act 2007, the BPP is mandated to perform procurement audit and submit such audits to the national assembly bi-annually.

“BPP admittedly failed and neglected to perform its statutory duty particularly for conduct of post procurement audit and submission of report to the national assembly bi-annually.

“That the above neglect of duty by the BPP has affected the national assembly in its duty of conducting oversight with respect to the application of public funds.

Based on section 6 (1) (c) and section 16 (1) (b) of the procurement act of 2007, the BPP is not authorised to issue certificate of no objection to contract awarded to relevant entities.

“The powers of BPP is aimed at ensuring that government get value for contracts awarded and within relevant threshold has it backed by allocation. The BPP has consistently engaged in under hand dealings with respect to the grant of certificate of no objections, abusing this power to make gains.

“If urgent steps are not taken to investigate these allegations and address proven infractions, the BPP is likely to transform itself from a regulator to disruptor and endanger the whole public procurement system.”

Supporting the motion, Bala Na’allah, deputy leader of the senate, said measures should be put in place to prevent stealing by public office holders.

“We are aware that 70 percent of the recoveries have come from the doorstep of the executive. So the preventive measures should be targeted at that arm of government,” he said.

“The question now should be what can we do to stop the stealing or reduce to the barest minimum the stealing of government money.”

The senate adopted the motion after it was put to a voice vote by Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president.