Public procurement: Senate demands full compliance, transparency

…. every Naira spent must translate to good schools, hospitals — Sen. Olajide Ipinsagba

The Senate has demanded transparency and full compliance with the load down rules in the execution of procurement contracts in the country in a bid to cut waste.

The Chairman of its Committee on Public Procurement, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba (Ondo-North ), who made the call in Abuja on Thursday, said procurement should be executed in a manner that would ensure value for money spent on projects by the government.

He added speaking at a retreat organised for members of the committee in partnership with LeadBold Resource Consulting.

Ipinsagba said, “Public procurement is not merely a technical or administrative activity; it is the mechanism through which government policies are transformed into tangible services, infrastructure, and development outcomes.

“It accounts for a significant proportion of national expenditure and, therefore, demands the highest standards of integrity, efficiency, and accountability.”

The senator said though the passing of the Public Procurement Act 2007, vis-à-vis the establishment of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, sped up the process of institutionalising these principles, more work needed to be done to achieve the desired results.

He spoke further, “Public Procurement is not a one-time event; it is a continuous process of evolution, adaptation, and learning.

“The Senate Committee on Public Procurement remains committed to legislative oversight, policy advocacy, and institutional reforms that strengthen integrity and compliance in the procurement system.

“Let us, therefore, reaffirm our collective resolve to make public procurement in Nigeria a model of transparency and efficiency—not only in Africa but across the global stage.

“By aligning our practices with international standards and embracing innovation, we can ensure that every naira spent translates into better schools, safer roads, improved healthcare, and a more prosperous nation in line with Mr President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.”

Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Leadbold Resource Consulting Ltd, Barrister Kelechi Kingsley, noted that the aim of the retreat was to enhance the leadership capacity of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement to effectively drive oversight, transparency, accountability and compliance in Nigeria’s public procurement ecosystem.

She explained, “The retreat seeks to expose participants to global regulations, international best practices and practical frameworks that will strengthen institutional integrity, ensure value for money in public expenditure and advance national development objectives through sound procurement governance.”

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