Corruption: Open contracting process to commence March — FG

Nigeria is set to commence the full implementation of the open contracting processes, aimed at entrenching transparency in public procurement, as the Federal Government said that the open contracting portal is scheduled for opening at the end of the first quarter of 2017. Mr. Mokuolu Adesina, Head, e-Government Procurement Unit of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, stated this in his presentation, yesterday, at the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice’s, ANEEJ, Civil Society Advocacy to Support Anti-Corruption in Nigeria, CASAN. The programme was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, under the European Union, funded 10th European Development Fund, EDF. Adesina lamented that corruption in public procurement affects the efficiency of public spending and effectiveness of donors’ resources, creates waste and ultimately, affects the quality of goods and services and the opportunities they present to improve quality of life. He added that corruption in public procurement also harms companies that produce goods and services as it increases operational costs, reduces competitiveness and discourages foreign investment. Adesina stated that with the full implementation of open contracting process, the Federal Government shall require the timely, current, and routine publication of enough information about the formation, award, execution, performance, and completion of public contracts. This, he said, was to enable the public, including media and civil society, to understand and monitor as a safeguard against inefficient, ineffective, or corrupt use of public resources. According to him, this would require affirmative disclosure of contracts, including licenses, concessions, permits, grants or any other document exchanging public goods, assets, or resources, including all annexes, schedules and documents incorporated by reference, and any amendments thereto. “Public contracting shall be conducted in a transparent and equitable manner, in accordance with publicly disclosed rules that explain the functioning of the process, including policies regarding disclosure.” he explained.