The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, Senator Jide Ipansagba, has assured Nigerians that the 10th Senate, working alongside the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, is committed to creating a transparent and inclusive procurement system that will provide equal opportunities for all citizens, including ordinary Nigerians, to bid and win government contracts.
Senator Ipansagba made this statement while speaking with journalists in his Abuja office. He emphasized that the committee was taking decisive steps to reform the procurement process by eradicating fraud, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that only qualified individuals or companies secure contracts. He noted that the era of backdoor deals and single-source procurements that fail to provide value for money would soon be over.
“We are working to create a procurement system where ordinary Nigerians can participate without the need for connections. No more will contractors be awarded jobs without going through proper bidding processes,” said Ipansagba. “We aim to bring a system where the right people get the right jobs, which will also lead to substantial cost savings for the government.”
The Senator added that the committee’s ultimate goal is to ensure that every contract awarded reflects due diligence, and that Nigerians are given a fair chance to compete for government jobs. As part of this reform, the committee is working on transitioning the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) from an outdated, analog system to a digital platform, making the entire process more efficient, transparent, and accessible.
“We are transitioning from traditional analog procurement methods to digital means, and in doing so, we aim to align Nigeria’s procurement practices with international standards,” Senator Ipansagba stated. “The focus will be on creating a procurement process that is accessible to all, ensuring transparency, and eliminating corruption.”
He also noted that the committee would not tolerate contractors who lack the necessary resources or expertise to handle government contracts. Instead, it will ensure that those awarded contracts are capable of fulfilling their obligations, thereby improving the quality of public service delivery.
The Senate Committee on Public Procurement has also pledged to investigate procurement activities since 2019 to identify irregularities and restore the public’s trust in the system. Ipansagba stated that his team of highly experienced professionals would work tirelessly to restore the confidence of the Nigerian people and uphold the standards set by the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
“The system we are building will give everyone an equal opportunity to bid and win government contracts. We want to create a system where Nigerians don’t need to know anyone in power to succeed in the bidding process,” Ipansagba concluded.
The committee’s reforms, which align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, are expected to pave the way for a new era of procurement practices in Nigeria, offering transparency, fairness, and accountability in government contracts.
