Nigerian regulator attacks politicians over procurement

The Nigerian regulator, Mr Ezah  said he was alarmed at the frequent cases of abuse of stipulated procurement due processes by ministries, departments and government agencies. Speaking at the Third National  Procurement Forum in Abuja he stated “I have appeared over 250 times before various committees of the National Assembly and uncountable times at the ICPC along with officers of the bureau, who are constantly, offered all kinds of goodies, ranging from promise of contracts to money, all in attempt to circumvent the process and bring the hard earned reputation of the bureau to ridicule.”

A recent World Bank study revealed that nearly 45% of companies in the World Bank & IFC Enterprise expect to give gifts to public officials in order to secure a government contract. Mr Ezah  said the implementation of the Public Procurement Act (2007) has largely succeeded in opening up the public contracting system, by promoting competition, and helping curb wastefulness in the application of public funds.  However the greatest challenge the Bureau is facing has been the resistance from members of the elite class in the society.

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