By Okeoghene Akubuike
Dr Adebowale Adedokun, the Director-General (D-G), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has warned procurement officers against non-approved procurement plans.
Adedokun gave the warning in a statement issued by Zira Nagga, Head, Press and Public Relations in Abuja on Monday.
The D-G who spoke at a meeting with Non-Pool Procurement Officers in Federal Parastatals, Agencies, Institutions, and Government-owned Companies in Abuja, said it was a criminal offence not to have procurement plans.
“A situation where officers at the directorate cadre recommend to the accounting officers to sign off procurements that were not captured in plans amount to a breach of the provisions of the extant laws.
“The following constitute offences under the Public Procurement Act (PPA), 2007: signing or awarding contracts without a procurement plan and administrative approvals (Finance Act 2023).
“Entering or attempting to enter into a collusive agreement with a supplier, contractor or consultant; conducting or attempting to conduct procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt acts.
“Directly, indirectly or attempting to influence a procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in award of a contract, and splitting of tenders to enable the evasion of monetary thresholds set.”
Adedokun listed some administrative sanctions for public officers in accordance with Section 6(e) of the PPA, 2007, to include the suspension of officers concerned with the procurement or disposal proceeding in issue.
Other sanctions include the replacement of the head or any of the members of the procuring or disposal unit of any entity or the chairperson of the Tenders Board.
“The discipline of the accounting officer of any procuring entity; and, the temporary transfer of the procuring and disposal function of a procuring and disposing entity to a third-party procurement agency or consultant.”
The D-G said the current administration was committed to its ongoing procurement reforms and would not fail to sanction government officials and companies that acted in breach of the extant procurement laws.
Adedokun cited for instance, the provisions of Section 58 (5) of the PPA, 2007, which prescribed, upon conviction, a term of imprisonment of not less than five calendar years without any option of fine for government officials.
He said this was in addition to a summary dismissal from government services.
The D-G added that erring legal entities/companies would face debarment from all public procurements for a period not less than five calendar years.
“In addition, a fine equivalent to 25 per cent of the value of the procurement in issue in accordance with Section 58(6) of PPA, 2007.”
Adedokun announced a series of policies aimed at achieving effective procurement processes, citing an SGF circular Ref. No. 59780/S.I/T.I/117 dated 14 June 2017.
He said the circular prohibited officers in other cadres from performing procurement functions where career procurement officers were available.
According to him, only officers employed as procurement officers or converted to the procurement officer cadre are permitted to conduct procurement functions.
“Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) without qualified procurement officers should, as a matter of urgency, liaise with the BPP to conduct procurement training for staff members handling procurement functions.
“The MDAs should also ensure that such staff members are compulsorily enrolled for the next conversion and or induction exercise scheduled by the BPP.”
Adedokun urged procurement officers to do the right thing, assuring them that the BPP would leverage presidential support to defend against persecution by officers or directors trying to pervert procurement processes.
He said that henceforth, the postings of procurement directors to MDAs must be approved by the BPP; otherwise, such postings would be considered non-procedural and illegal.
The D-G also informed the gathering of officers from GLs 8 to 17 at the meeting that the Presidency had approved the BPP as the approving authority for all issues of variation in contracts for public projects. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ese E. Ekama-Williams
