The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Procurement, Unyime Idem, has stated that the majority of corruption cases in the country are carried out through the procurement process.
He mentioned that the 10th National Assembly has consequently opted to revise the Public Procurement Act.
Idem revealed this on Thursday during a session where officials from the Bureau of Public Procurement appeared before the committee to present and defend their budget estimates for 2024.
“The National Assembly is working on the amendment of the Public Procurement Act 2007 to reflect present-day realities and to meet best practices,” Idem stated in his welcome address.
Recognizing the BPP’s role in promoting good governance, the legislator emphasized the committee’s commitment to empowering the agency to fulfill its functions effectively.
He noted that the committee was mandated by Order 20(b), Rule 92 Standing Rules of the House of the Representatives “to appropriate funds to BPP, being the agency under its supervision and to also ensure that the funds appropriated to the agency are judiciously utilised.”
He assured that the committee would collaborate closely with the agency to ensure that the 2024 budget not only significantly benefits the lives of Nigerians but also contributes to wealth creation for the nation.
“The Committee on Public Procurement has a vital role to play in the eradication of corruption in the country as most of the corruption cases in the country can be traced to procurement processes.
“While I commend the already existing cordiality, let me reiterate the need for continuous cooperation of the Bureau of Public Procurement to enable us to work harmoniously to ensure that all ministries, departments and agencies observe due process, transparency and accountability in the procurement of goods and services to ensure that all taxpayers’ money is accounted for and spent judiciously,” he added.