Senate calls for transparency, strict compliance in public procurement
The Senate has emphasised the need for greater transparency and strict adherence to due process in Nigeria’s public procurement system to ensure value for money in project execution across the country.
This call was made on Thursday by Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo North), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, during a two-day retreat organised for members of the committee in Abuja, by LeadBold Resource Consulting.
]Ipinsagba said public procurement should serve as a model of transparency and efficiency, ensuring that every naira spent by the government translates into tangible development outcomes.
“Public procurement is not merely a technical or administrative activity; it is the mechanism through which government policies are transformed into tangible services, infrastructure, and development outcomes,” he stated.
He noted that public procurement accounts for a significant portion of national expenditure and therefore requires the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and accountability.
While acknowledging that the enactment of the Public Procurement Act in 2007 and the establishment of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) were important milestones, Ipinsagba stressed that more reforms are needed to strengthen the system.
“Public procurement is not a one-time event; it is a continuous process of evolution, adaptation, and learning,” he said.
“The Senate Committee on Public Procurement remains committed to legislative oversight, policy advocacy, and institutional reforms that strengthen integrity and compliance in the procurement system.”
He further pledged the committee’s support for aligning Nigeria’s procurement practices with international standards, saying such alignment would help ensure that every public expenditure leads to better schools, safer roads, improved healthcare, and national prosperity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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Earlier, Kelechi Kingsley, the chief executive officer of LeadBold Resource Consulting Ltd., said the retreat was designed to enhance the strategic leadership capacity of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement in driving oversight, transparency, accountability, and compliance in the sector.
She explained that the programme aimed to expose participants to global regulations, international best practices, and practical frameworks that would strengthen institutional integrity and promote value for money in public expenditure.
