The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has reviewed its standard bidding and contract documents to ensure transparency, competition, cost effectiveness and professionalism in the public sector e-procurement system.
The Director-General of BPP Mr Mamman Ahmadu, said this at a stakeholders’ workshop on the review in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ahmadu said that the idea was to address the inadequacies observed by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the use of the current documents, which were developed in 2009 and last updated in 2011.
The workshop was organised by the BPP to strengthen the ongoing procurement reform in the country.
He said that the local procurement space had changed significantly thereby, necessitating a review.
“Since the development of the existing standard bidding documents in 2009, a lot has happened in the procurement space both locally and internationally.
“Notably, the global economic meltdown, the global pandemic brought about by COVID-19, rapid advancement in technology, advancement in procurement practice globally, just to mention a few.
“This is mandated to prepare and update standard bidding and contract documents with the aim of achieving its objectives of transparency, competition, cost effectiveness and professionalism.
“The use of these documents over the years has thrown up lessons borne out of challenges encountered by the public and private sector actors in the conduct of public procurement in the country.
“This is with a view to bringing them up to date with the current international best practices, while ensuring that domestic interests are well taken care of for the purpose of national development,” he said.
He said that the drafted documents were produced and shared with relevant procurement stakeholders ahead of the workshop.
According to him, the BPP has held similar workshops in Rivers, Kano, Lagos and the FCT for the grand finale.
He urged stakeholders to participate actively, submit comments, observations, advice and feedback at the various breakout sessions that would be held during the workshop.
“This is with the aim of creating an opportunity to harvest valuable inputs from all public procurement stakeholders.
“To also discuss the key clauses of interests, synergise various perspectives and incorporate them in the documents being reviewed and developed,” he said.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr William Alo, said that e-procurement process was essential to the growth of the economy.
Alo said with it was particularly necessary in carrying out government procurement functions.
According to him, the ministry is at the forefront of driving the adoption of ICT in all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He said that the e-procurement process was carried out in line with the principal hallmarks of proficient public procurement, economy, efficiency, fitness, reliability, transparency and accountability.
The economic downturn in the country made it imperative to ensure the creation of more value in the utilisation of scarce resources to enhance development in Nigeria.
“I hope that this review will incorporate the e-procurement processes, because a good procurement system will ensure value for money.
“Our scarce resources will be managed and above all, good procurement reduces to the barest minimum corruption, which is endemic in the system,” he said.
The breakout session of the event was grouped into four categories of goods, works, services and ICT.
The session was to enlighten stakeholders to have a better understanding of the e-procurement.
