BPP: Adedokun unveils agenda, harps on community-based projects procurement

….Says transparency, accountability my watch words
….As EFCC, ICPC, CCB, others vow collaboration with BPP to tackle corruption

By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA: The Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Dr Adebowale Adedokun, has unveiled reforms agenda at the agency, promising to initiate community-based procurement with a view to stimulating local economies.

Dr. Adedokun, who made the disclosure while addressing a press conference tagged: “Renewed Hope Through Strategic Procurement” on Monday in Abuja, also vowed to create rooms for women youth, and persons living with disabilities to participate in public contracts procurement.

He also emphasized on prioritizing local businesses and MSMEs to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.

According to him, “Promoting affirmative procurement inclusivity will remain a cornerstone of our strategy through creating opportunities for women youth, and persons living with disabilities to participate in public contracts, encouraging community-based procurement initiative to stimulate local economies, and supporting sector-based procurement strategies tailored to specific industries.

He also disclosed the position of BPP ahead of next year, saying, “Let us make 2025 a defining year of transformation and progress for the BPP and Nigeria. ”

While rolling out his plans to reform and reposition the agency for effective and efficient performance, he admitted that though the Nigeria’s procurement system has made remarkable progress over the years, the potential opportunities inherent only in efficient performance of the Bureau’s statutory functions have remained largely untapped, hence the need for reforms, creativity, and establishment of new standards to make the desired impacts.

According to him, “My vision for BPP is to lead a regulatory institution that fosters strategic partnerships with public service organisations, ant-corruption agencies, civil society, the media, and development partners.

“Together, we will reposition the BPP as a driving force for Nigeria’s socio-economic growth through world-class procurement practices.”

He said his renewed vision is anchored on three key pillars, namely Transparency and Accountability; Competence, Efficiency, Integrity and Innovation, as well as Inclusivity and Economic Growth.

“Adedokun outlined his key priorities for 2025 to include: leveraging technology and automation to have an electronic procurement system that would enable ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to conduct advertisements, thereby improving cost efficiency and transparency.

Another one is keeping standardised procurement records and ensuring real-time monitoring capabilities.

He also hinted of plans to ensure stakeholders’ accessibility and accountability through a centralised digital platform, and streamlining of processes to reduce turnaround times and enhance efficiency.

According to Dr. Adedokun, capacity building will be taken more seriously, and the agency will regulate and develop certification programmes that position officers as world-class experts, capable of bringing the renewed hope dream to fruition.

Stressing the need to strengthen collaboration with the various stakeholders for progress and attainment of the set goals, he said, “Our efforts will include: deepening partnership with anti-corruption agencies, CSOs, professional bodies, and development partners harmonising standards with state procurement regulatory bodies.”

The measures also includes, reintroducing sensitization workshops for key stakeholders, including Federal Permanent Secretaries, CEOs, Legal Officers, members of the National Assembly, and the Judiciary; promoting affirmative procurement, inclusivity; prioritising local businesses and MSMEs to stimulate economic growth and create jobs among others.

He added that to ensure comprehensive reforms, the agency would work with development partners to implement the Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS), a global standard assessment tool that helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our procurement system, and highlights areas that need improvement.

He said in collaboration with sister anti-corruption agencies, unethical practices would be sanctioned and good conduct, duly rewarded under his watch, calling on all stakeholders to join him in achieving procurement excellence in the country going forward.

Meanwhile, representatives of the anti-graft agencies, who attended the media briefing have pledged their unalloyed support and collaboration with BPP in achieving its set goals.

They admitted that over 90 percent of corruption incidents occurred during the public procurement processes at the civil service sector and therefore, all hands must be on deck to reduce the menace to the minimal.

At the occasion were the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Dr Musa Adamu; the Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Dr Andullahi Usman Bello; the Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Olanikpekun Oluyede, who was represented by a Director at the agency and the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI,, Dr Orji Ogbonaya Orji.

In his separate remarks, the NEITI boss, Dr Orji Ogbonaya Orji described the appointment of the appointment of Dr. Adedokun as a square peg in a square hole, giving his long-time experience at the BPP.