The representative for Eket/ONNA/Esit-Eket/Ibeno Federal Constituency at the National Assembly recently emphasized the need for a prompt amendment of the Public Procurement Act 2007 to improve governance and transparency in Nigeria’s procurement processes. This call was made during a legislative engagement in Kigali, Rwanda, where lawmakers discussed procurement practices and reform measures. The lawmaker highlighted the importance of amending the Act to ensure effective governance and transparency in procurement processes.
The legislative engagement in Kigali provided insights into public procurement practices in Nigeria, including bidding processes and procurement planning. Discussions at the event covered topics such as audit and monitoring in public procurement, legislative oversight, and best practices for public procurement committees. Recommendations included transitioning to an e-procurement system, increasing stakeholder engagement, and enhancing competition to improve procurement processes in Nigeria.
The lawmaker also proposed the establishment of a National Council on Public Procurement to oversee and streamline procurement practices, along with advocating for stricter penalties for violations. These recommendations aim to uphold principles of transparency, accountability, fairness, efficiency, and integrity in public procurement. Additionally, the delegation engaged with officials from the Rwandan Public Procurement Authority to exchange insights on procurement practices and visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial for reflection and learning.