The Member representing Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency, Hon. Okpolupm Etteh, has emphasized the urgent need to amend the Public Procurement Act 2007 to enhance effective governance and ensure transparency in Nigeria’s procurement processes.
Hon. Etteh, a delegate of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement, made the call during a 4-day legislative engagement in Kigali, Rwanda.
Sharing his thought with journalists on Sunday, he said, “The Kigali event afforded us, the entire members of the Committee, the opportunity to critically discuss public procurement practices in Nigeria and evaluate the bidding processes for goods, services, and works. The event also exposed us to the intricacies of procurement planning, management, and negotiation with key players and stakeholders in the sector.”
The federal lawmaker stated that the event, themed “Public Procurement Law for Effective Legislative Oversight and Compliance Monitoring,” provided lawmakers the opportunity to critically examine procurement practices and discuss reform measures.
He further stated that discussions at the event included “Audit and Monitoring in Public Procurement, the shortcomings of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007, other procurement regulations in Nigeria, legislative powers and oversight, as well as best practices for public procurement committees.”
In his recommendation, Hon. Etteh, who also called for an urgent transition to an e-procurement system, increased stakeholder engagement, and enhanced competition, said “The the Public Procurement Act 2007, if urgently amended, would ensure the effective implementation of public procurement processes and procedures in Nigeria. Additionally, I propose the inauguration of the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP) to oversee and streamline public procurement practices.”
Hon. Etteh, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on University Education, also advocated for stricter penalties for violations of procurement processes.
He maintained that his recommendations would promote transparency, accountability, fairness, efficiency, and integrity, which are key principles of global public procurement practices.
During their visit to Kigali, Hon. Etteh and his colleagues engaged officials of the Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA) to compare procurement practices and procedures between the two countries.
They also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a site dedicated to the victims of the 1994 genocide, for reflection and learning.
Media Unit
Office of the Honourable Member
Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency
