The Bureau of Public Procurement has urged the House of Representatives not to pass the bill seeking to amend the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria stating that the proposed amendment will bring conflict among the two agencies as well as duplication their functions.
Speaking during a public hearing on the proposed amendment of the bill in Abuja on Monday , a Director of Civil Infrastructure, Nasir Bello who represented the Director General of the BPP during the event explained that allowing the amendment in the bill will bring the institute in conflict with the mandate of his Bureau.
He explained that his Bureau has reviewed the Bill extensively emphasizing that in their views, allowing the proposed amendment to section 1(c) which seeks to provide training, education and examination of persons desiring to become professional procures as well as procurement auditors according to the provisions of the Act in Nigeria or abroad” will bring it in conflict with section 5(k) of the Public Procurement Act”.
He, however maintained that the proposed amendment to section 12 as contained in the amendment bill will also bring conflict with global standards and the provision of the Procurement Act, noting that the institute should instead of proposing amendment to existing Act focus on its primary role in relation to purchasing. procurement, store, materials, warehouse, logistics management or procurement chain management in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
The BPP during the public hearing equally drew attention to the provision of Section 5(s) of the PPA which he explained is vests in his Bureau as the Regulator of Public Procurement in Nigeria adding that the mandate to also co-ordinate relevant training programs to build institutional capacity is also within their scope.
He said the provision of the intended training by the Institute, especially in the area of Public Procurement, must be co-ordinated by the Bureau, as the regulatory Agency for Public procurement in Nigeria.
On his address, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas informed that the public hearing has reinforced the dedication of the House to open, participatory and consultative parliament as enumerated significantly in the Legislative Agenda and in the recently organised open National Assembly Week.
The speaker was
represented by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbare at public hearing even as he maintained that the recent 2024 Open Week was very crucial legislative process put in place by the parliament to provide relevant stakeholders and other members of the public a robust window to be part of the parliamentary practice.
According to the speaker, peoples views as well as their feelings and aspirations were all captured in the legislative framework to guarantee better legal outputs for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He observed further that the world has moved onto specialization and sector-based professionalization of public procurement.
We now have within the same country or across different continents provisions for specialized services and their co-existence.
In his address, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, Hon. Unyime Idem explained that the bill is a priority bill because of the important role it has played in shaping professionals in the field of purchasing and supply chain management in Nigeria as well as the development of high standard professional skill, ability and integrity among all those engaged in procurement practice.
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