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Public Procurement Corruption: Casuses, Remedies (2)

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This is the second part of the paper first published Monday 4th January, 2010.

 

According to Vito Tanzi, “The total economic and social effects of corrupt actions might be very costly and out of proportion to the bribes received by corrupt officials in terms of resources wasted, the opportunity cost of resources· misused, and the inefficiencies introduced in the system.”

To illustrate the economic impact of rent seeking and corruption with an example, imagine that a highway is to be built, a N500 million project. Ten companies take part in the tender. A modest suggestion is that five companies each pay N500,000 in various types of grease payments to win the contract, while the winner also pays 10% of the contract value, N50 million. The apparent effect is that $52,500,000 is wasted. Besides, the bribe paid by the contractor most probably inflates the highway price, or makes the company skimp on quality. The other four bribing companies also have to regain their sunk cost, for instance by increasing prices on other products offered by the company, contributing to higher domestic inflation. Macroeconomic effects are obvious if this example portrays e.g. ten percent of the public acquisitions in a country. This percentage is most likely higher in countries experiencing extensive corruption.

Corruption, “state capture” and transition economies

A different side of bureaucratic rent seeking is state capture, defined as the propensity of firms to shape the underlying rules of the game (Le. laws, decrees and regulations) through illicit and non-transparent private payments to public officials (Hellman et aI., 2000a). State capture evolves as a result of grand corruption. Key state institutions are “captured” by private interests to bias the policy-making process in favor of particular firms, leaving the operation of government non-transparent. The underlying threat to democracy is obvious when elected politicians and public officials make decisions on grounds deviating from the expected.

Impaired competition, abated international interest and firm behavior

“Systematic corruption can induce inefficiencies that reduce competitiveness. It may limit the number of bidders, favor those with inside connections rather than the most efficient candidates, limit the information available to participants and introduce added transaction costs” (UNDP, 1997). These distortions of market forces obstruct the ordinary benefits induced by competition, like the achievement of best value for money, a rational allocation of resources, and the pressure experienced by individuals and companies for general improvement. Usually, a public tender affected by corruption represents an inefficient investment of public assets. One reason is inflated prices; another is that a corrupt official who discriminates in favor of some bidders frequently selects an inefficient contractor (lien, 1990; Rose-Ackerman, 1978).

A pervasive level of corruption in the economy may also abate the international interest in both trade and foreign direct investment (Wei, 1997 and 1999), resulting in a GDP growth lower than it could have been and a reduction of qualified competitors in procurement projects. Corruption represents an increase of trade or investment expenditures to a foreign enterprise. When demands for bribes also appear unpredictable, counting on the necessary profit is difficult.

Predictable corruption, however, may not necessarily be less harmful than unpredictable corruption. Lambsdorff argues that confidence in corrupt deals enhances the further spread of corruption. “When business people have confidence that after paying a bribe a return will be provided as promised, there is less motivation to seek legal alternatives” (Lambsdorff, 2001). The uncertainty with regard to costs may thus cause the enterprise to turn the tender in question down. Besides, operating in a situation with informal rules is difficult as the company may not understand how to behave and react, who to bribe (and not to bribe), what contact to grease, etc., explaining a certain refusal to approach the economy. Companies may also decline tenders likely to be affected by corruption because of legal restrictions on bribery of foreign public officials.

The companies defying all these challenges, on the other hand, experiencing successful trade or investment in the economy despite high levels of corruption, often exhibit a more lenient attitude towards bribery. Furthermore, UNDP (1997) explains how the uncertainties introduced by corruption into the economic environment may affect the way private firms do business. The firm may take up a short-run orientation, fearing either that those in power may overthrow because of their corruption, or the imposition of arbitrary financial demands once investments are sunk. The consequence may be a reluctance to invest in stationary capital and a too hasty project completion ignoring quality demands.

Of course, these problems are not characterizing all companies. To some degree, however, the attitude towards bribery and the effect on firm behavior may cause an adverse selection of foreign companies operating in the economy, companies whose success rests on bribery. Such an adverse selection of companies would ensure a constant flow of illegal payments to public officials, and restrict the efficiency of anti-corruption measures.

GOOD PRACTICES IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

The fight against corruption must start with an explicit commitment by the prime leadership of the country. Ending the pettier forms of corruption in the bureaucracy is difficult if the grand political corruption persists. An honest intention has to be followed up by good behavior, expressing opposition against all forms of corruption, whether it involves family members and friends, political associates, or other members of government.

Policy Response

Policy makers can respond to risks of corruption in general by ensuring a good public procurement system. A good public procurement system that can effectively prevent corruption needs to be transparent and provide for accountability and integrity. The system should also confirm to and cover various procedures, laws and processes put in place for detecting and preventing corruption.

(To be Continued).

 

Seun Adebowale

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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