Nation
BPP Saves Nigeria N1.9trillion from Contracts Fraud – DG
The Bureau of Public Procurement ,( BPP,) Thursday said it’s activities on Contract monitoring has
saved Nigeria over N1.9trillion from contracts fraud over the years.
The Director – General , of the agency ; Dr Adebowale Adedokun stated this during a budget defence session the BPP had with the Senate Committee on Public Procurement in the National Assemby .
According to he BPP Boss the agency set up 17 years ago , precisely on the 14th of June 2007 , has been on the fore front of the war against corruption in the country, particularly those that have to do , with contracts awards , inflation and diversion.
His words ” BPP has within the last seventeen years been changing the landscape of public procurement in Nigeria by ensuring transparency , fairness and efficiency on contracts awards and execution .
” BPP has been saving the country from loss of at least N40billion annually to contracts inflation , diversion of public fund and poor service delivery.
“Records from our price intelligence unit indicate that total money prevented so far from being diverted to personal pockets from contracts award is N1.9trillion .
” BPP has over the years been significantly contributing to increase revenue generation by the relevant agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service ( FIRS ), Nigeria Pension Commission ( PENCOM) etc .
Dr Adedokun however lamented that the budget envelope of N1.57 billion for the agency for the year 2025 is far below it’s proposed N,63.5bn for Capital Expenditures.and may likely affect the agency’s proposed projects .
The said sum according to him , will not help in any way , help to solve the accommodation problem being faced by Staff of the Bureau , replacing moribund project monitoring vehicles bought since 2008 and executing the E – procurement programme that is in the pipeline .
However in their comments , members of the committee chaired by Senator Olajide Ipinsagba ( Ondo North) , wondered how BPP with just 158 workers, would effectively and efficiently monitor contract awards and execution of over 800 government agencies under its purview .
The Committee through the Chairman therefore , directed the DG of BPP to increase the staff strength of the agency and add the overhead for new employees in their 2025 budget