The Federal Government has said all procurement and award of contracts must be made open for Nigerians and interested stakeholders to keep records of government processes.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call on Thursday when he hosted the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), in Abuja.
Idris said all companies that win contracts from the government should be made public. He noted that such transparency would enhance trust in the governance process.
He commended the Director General of the Bureau, Adebowale Adedokun, for his effort in making procurement and contract terms transparent in line with President Bola Tinubu’s policy.
“Before now, issues of procurement sometimes are being shrouded in some form of mystery. I’m glad that you are unraveling this now by making it transparent. There is really nothing to hide.
“If company A gets a contract, let everyone know that company A has gotten a contract and these are the reasons. Once this transparency is being upheld by your agency, I can tell you that people will lose contract and be happy for it,” he said.
Idris commended BPP’s new initiative of completing the entire procurement process within 20 working. He said it was a game-changer and a clear demonstration of the leadership focus, innovation, and determination to revolutionize the procurement procedures in the country.
The Minister pledged his ministry’s readiness to work closely with the BPP to create awareness on the procurement process, as well as wage a campaign against vandalism of public infrastructure.
On his part, the Director General of the Bureau, Adedokun, stated that the agency has implemented a well-structured procurement process to promote fairness, accountability, and competition in the award of contracts.
According to him, the agency plans that all procurement processes by ministries, departments and agencies should be completed within the first half of the year.
Adedeokun further disclosed that the agency was transitioning to an electronic procurement system to allow contractors from various parts of the country, as well as those operating internationally, to participate in the bidding process.
The Director General added that ministries, departments, and agencies were required to submit a quarterly report detailing all contracts awarded, including the names of the contractors, which would be uploaded to the BPP portal to further enhance transparency in the contract award process.
He stated that new procurement guidelines have been developed for medical equipment, food security, and vehicles to ensure standardized and seamless procurement processes.