NAN-H-93
E-procurement
By Cecilia John
Lagos, March 2, 2017 (NAN) The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) said it would commence electronic public procurement to check inflation of contract sums and other fraudulent practices in the process.
The Acting Director, Regulations and Database Department of the Bureau, Mr Aliyu Aliyu, made this known at a three-day training for government personnel on “Fighting Corruption in Public Procurement’’ on Thursday in Lagos.
The training is organised by the United Nations for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with funding from the European Union.
Aliyu said that BPP had noticed several forms of questionable practices in the procurement process that had led to loss of huge amounts of public funds.
He said that the unwholesome acts also included low quality jobs, especially in construction.
He explained that other than fighting corruption, e-procurement had several benefits.
“The implementation of e-government procurement is a vital development tool in the modernisation of public sector procurement.
“There will be e-integration of all relevant systems and involvement of all stakeholders.
“With it there will also be a payment system that will check what Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) procure and how often they do that.
“For instance, MDAs that include certain equipment in their yearly budget in spite of not having need for them will be adequately checked on the system.
“There will be improvement in productivity and changes to procurer’s behaviour.
“There will also be better enforcement of regulations and audit requirements,’’ he said, adding that the process would benefit MDAs and other stakeholders.
He pointed out that it would increase competition and ensure cost and transaction savings, including reduction in overhead cost, among others.
Aliyu also said that the facility would provide environmental benefits as it would protect trees that were being felled to produce papers that procurement entities submitted in the process of contract bidding.
He stressed that adopting e-procurement would boost cross-border commerce, thereby boosting Nigeria’s credibility before the international community.
He added that a lot of countries, including South Korea and Portugal, which had adopted e-procurement, had gained between 10 and 25 per cent.
Aliyu said that Portugal, for instance, had 10 days reduced in its procurement process since the introduction of e-procurement.
He, however, admitted that there would be initial problems in the process, included non-adaptability, power supply and inadequate human capacity.
He assured that with time the relevant stakeholders would become familiar with the process and begin to reap the benefits.
According to him, the banking sector had similar challenges when e-banking was introduced some years ago, but today, we are enjoying the process.
Aliyu called for patience, promising that the bureau would put necessary measures in place to make the process as understandable as possible, adding that there would enough awareness creation to carry everyone along.
He disclosed that the bureau would train officers, contractors and other persons in the procurement chain to ensure efficiency.
He said that the Public Procurement Act allowed BPP to introduce new technology, adding “we are collaborating with NIPOST and technological drivers to see to the success of the process.
“In time, e-government procurement will be the norm and will become second nature for suppliers and other internal and external stakeholders.’’ (NAN)
CJM/OPI/OPI
Edited by Olisa Ifeajika