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By Okeoghene Akubuike
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has charged Federal Government agencies to adhere strictly to due procurement processes to ensure effective service delivery and value for money.
This is contained in a statement signed by Zira Nagga, Head, Press and Public Relations, BPP, in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the director-general gave the charge while delivering a presentation at a retreat organised by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Abuja.
Adedokun said strengthening procurement capacity was essential for safeguarding public resources and ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services to Nigerians.
“Procurement connects citizens with the government to deliver value and end-users’ satisfaction.”
He described procurement as a critical tool for good governance that guides quality and timely project delivery, stressing the need for proper needs assessment before the commencement of any procurement process.
According to him, procurement activities must be adequately planned and backed by approved budgets, while strict adherence to approved thresholds remains mandatory.
The BPP boss also explained key procurement concepts that promote competitiveness, equity and alignment with public interest.
Adedokun clarified the roles and responsibilities of approving authorities to ensure that officers understood the chain of authority and compliance requirements in the procurement process.
He further highlighted measures for identifying and preventing procurement pitfalls including bid rigging, conflict of interest and unauthorised contract variations.
Adedokun noted that contract variations were domiciled with the BPP, except in exceptional cases.
The director-general reiterated the importance of transparency in procurement administration, directing that all contracts should be uploaded to both the organisation’s website and the BPP website.
Adedokun also said monthly and quarterly procurement activity reports must be published on the websites of both the organisation and the bureau.
The statement said the presentation marked a significant step towards reinforcing effective procurement practices within the NHIA and enhancing the capacity of its officers to uphold established standards.
It said the session underscored the importance of transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement as a cornerstone of good governance.
The retreat was aimed at equipping officers of the authority with fundamental knowledge of public procurement principles, approval authorities and strategies for avoiding procurement offences, while promoting fairness, value for money and compliance with regulatory frameworks (NAN)
Edited by Ese E. Ekama-Williams
