The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission are currently probing 150 organisations and government Ministries, Departments and Agencies for offences related to the violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
The Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent on Monday at the opening of the Procurement Cadre Conversion Training Programme in Abuja.
Also being probed are 200 persons involved in various infractions of the Act, which articulates the due process to be followed by the MDAs in the procurement of goods and services in the public service.
Offences for which the institutions and public officers are being investigated include collusion in contract bidding, use of fake documents, false claims by contracting firms and suppliers, and manipulation of the procurement process.
“As we speak, about 150 organisations, including private companies, Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as 200 persons are being investigated for various infractions of the Procurement Act,” Ezeh said.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, who confirmed the probe, added that procurement officers found culpable would be punished.
Anyim, who was represented at the event by a director in his office, urged public servants involved in the procurement process to conduct themselves with the highest sense of responsibility, accountability, ethics and integrity.
He said, “Government remains committed to the implementation of the Public Procurement Act. Mr. President has recently designated the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation as the champion for the implementation of the registration, categorisation and classification of current and intending contractors, consultants and service providers to the government and its agencies on a national database.
“The objective is to ensure that only competent and capable firms are selected to tender for government contracts. This will also ensure transparency in contractors’ prequalification and selection processes, and hence minimise the incidence of collusion and disappearance of contractors after the collection of mobilisation fees.”
He added, “It might interest you to know that ICPC and the EFCC are currently investigating cases of infractions, which include but not limited to collusion amongst bidders and manipulation of the procurement processes.
“Any public officer found to have colluded with unscrupulous contractors, consultants or service providers to defraud or short-change the Federal Government shall be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
Also speaking, the Lead Procurement Specialist, World Bank, Chief Bayo Awosemusi, said 30 per cent savings could be achieved when international procurement standards were followed.
He said the best procurement did not have to be the cheapest, but added that such procurement must meet certain principles and objectives, including economy, efficiency, value for money and timeliness.
Awosemusi commended the BPP for driving the process of professionalising procurement in the nation’s public service, adding that though the process was fraught with several challenges, the reward was immense.
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