Business
Contracts: BoPP Explains NCPP’s Role
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BoPP) said last Wednesday that the National Council on Public Procurement had no statutory powers to award contracts on behalf of the Federal Government.
The Director-General of the bureau, Mr Emeka Eze, made the clarification while answering questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.
He said the functions and objectives of the council did not include the award of all Federal Government contracts as reported in the media.
He said it was untrue that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had taken over the statutory functions of the council on public procurement by awarding contracts approved at its weekly meeting in Abuja.
“Yes, the law has been passed but the Council on Public Procurement is not to award contracts as erroneously being carried in the media.
“So, let me read what the council says are their functions:
“The council shall consider, approve and amend the monetary and prior review thresholds for the application of the position of this Act by procurement entities.
“Two, shall consider and approve policies on public procurement; three, approve the appointment of the directors of the bureau.
“Four, receive and consider for approval the audited accounts of the Bureau of Public Procurement; five, approve changes in the procurement process to adapt to improvements in modern technology; and six, give such other directives and perform such other functions as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act.
“These are the functions of the council. Nowhere does it say they should award projects.”
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, also addressed journalists on the outcome of the weekly FEC meeting.
Maku said that henceforth no projects would be awarded by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) without the final designs certified by relevant units in the Federal Ministry of Housing and Department of Development Control of the FCT.
He said the decision was meant to ensure quality in the construction of public buildings across the country.
He said already the council had directed the committee investigating the collapse of the Navy quarters at Gwarinpa in the FCT to identify all those in-charge of both the building design and erection.
“Also today, the Federal Executive Council discussed the report of a council committee on the collapsed Nigeria Navy building in Gwarinpa in Abuja.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.