The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has assured the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, of a strong working relationship and a platform to ensure that its activities are effectively communicated and understood by Nigerians.
Idris gave the assurance when he received a delegation for the Agency led the by the Director General, Adebowale Adedokun.
Commending the Director General for his achievements so far, the Minister noted that both the Ministry of Information and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) play crucial roles in providing feedback to Nigerians. He emphasised that their collaboration is both necessary and beneficial.
Idris stated; “Our job is actually intertwined. While you are working to ensure efficiency in the procurement process, we are working to provide timely and efficient information, helping people understand what you’re doing and the efforts of those working to award contracts, so we can achieve better infrastructure for our people.
“So, we must collaborate, and I’m glad that you have come. We’ll continue to deepen this partnership and ensure that we work together. Our platforms, such as the Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, News Agency of Nigeria, Voice of Nigeria, and the National Orientation Agency, are available to you. We will use these platforms to communicate the new initiatives and developments to Nigerians,” he explained.
The Minister also commended the BPP for its innovative efforts in promoting transparency and accountability in the procurement process and the award of contracts.
Renewed Hope
He said under the Renewed Hope Agenda, procurement and award of contracts, would no longer be shrouded in secrecy.
“Before now, issues of procurement some times 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 informed the visiting delegation that the ministry has been renamed the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, replacing its former name, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, to prioritise public reorientation and the reclamation of national values.
“What the President is trying to say is that there is a new focus on reorientation and reclaiming of our national values and the President will very soon launch the National Values Charter on behalf of Nigerians,” he said.
The Minister added that the new initiative of completing the entire procurement process within 20 working days is a game-changer and a clear demonstration of the leadership focus, innovation, and determination to revolutionize the procurement procedures in the country.
The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun disclosed that the Bureau has implemented a well-structured procurement process to promote fairness, accountability, and competition in the award of contracts.
He said; “We are here to tell you that we are a tool for good governance. BPP is an instrument that can deliver timely, completed projects in any sector. BPP is an institution that plays a critical role at ensuring that every single vision under the renewal agenda comes to reality. We see our responsibility not only to award contracts. In fact, our responsibility is about 19 or more that the law allows us to perform. One of them is public enlightenment. One of them is to educate the Nigerian citizen about what it is to expect, what government must do, when to do it, how to do it, how best to do it, the costs, the best costs that will give us best value. These are our various responsibilities. So we’re determined under our leadership to promote good governance.”
Dr. Adedokun, also noted that “henceforth, all procurement process by Ministries, Departments and Agencies should be completed within the first half of the year. And that ministries, departments, and agencies are now required to submit a quarterly report detailing all contracts awarded, including the names of the contractors, which will be uploaded to the BPP portal to further enhance transparency in the contract award process.”
He added that the Bureau is now categorizing and classifying consultants and service providers to build the capacity of local contractors to be competitive globally.
It is also 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.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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