Senate will provide equal opportunities for competitive bidding – Sen Ipinsagba
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) The Senate Committee chairman on Public Procurement, Senator Jide Ipinsagba representing Ondo North senatorial district at the National Assembly assured Nigerians of the Committee readiness to righting all wrongs in the procurement process in the country. Adding that his committee goal is to provide equal opportunities for Nigerians to participate in competitive bidding, which can lead to cost savings. The committee also discourages single-source procurement, which often does not provide good value for money.
He made this known on Tuesday in Abuja in a chat with selected journalists. Senator Ipansagba said the 10th Senate working with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration will ensure zero tolerance for procurement fraud in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
He said his committee was putting in place measures to ensure that all MDAs were aligned to the new administration’s paradigm shift, where ordinary Nigerians can bid and win contracts unlike what was obtainable, and also move BPP from analog to digital.
He said, “Many wrongs will be corrected. We want to make sure that only qualified persons get the contract job they tendered for.”
The federal lawmaker explained that the idea of MDAs calling for bids and lining people up for a rigorous Pre-qualification exercise only for the contract to go to persons or companies who did not participate in the process was no longer acceptable.
Ipansagba said, “Due process must be followed. We want the country to experience a new era of procurement system that is acceptable to international practice.”
“I can assure you that this Senate is sincere about the new deal we are bringing forward in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President and the uncommon Senate President.”
“We are also transitioning from traditional analog procurement methods to digital means, working closely with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
“The goal is to bring Nigeria’s procurement system on par with global standards, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
The committee which acts as an advisory body to the BPP, will promote a more inclusive procurement process where everyone has an equal opportunity to bid.
“The committee, under my chairmanship will discourage portfolio contractors who lack the necessary resources and expertise to handle government contracts”
Speaking about his preparedness to interface with MDAs by contractors, he said “the committee will evaluate both the commercial and technical tenders submitted by contractors to MDAs before awarding any government contracts.
“We will ensure that contractors have the capacity, resources, and manpower to fulfill the obligations.
“The committee follows the Public Procurement Act of 2007 as its guiding principle in carrying out its duties. Our aim is to make Nigerians and the constituted authority happy with our performance, working in alignment with the new administration’s agenda. Nigerians should be rest assured that this committee will deliver.
The committee chairman further explained that his committee was privileged to have highly experienced Nigerians who have made their mark in governance and in business as members.
He said, “I can assure you that my committee will investigate activities in the procurement system since 2019 and ensure we right the wrongs to regain the confidence of the public in the procurement system.”
“We want a system where you don’t need to know anybody before you can bid or win contracts,” he said.
