The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, will lead the committee set up to review the 2007 Public Procurement Act.

Other members of the committee are, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (member); Minister of Budget and Economic Planning (member); Director-General, Bureau of Public
Procurement (member ); Representative of the World Bank (member ); Messrs KPMG Nigeria – (technical consultants) and Permanent Secretary and Cabinet Affairs Office (member/secretary).

The committee has one month to complete the assignment.

A statement by the Director of Information, Office of the SGF, Segun Imohiosen, said the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, inaugurated the committee on Thursday in Abuja.

Imohiosen said Akume stated that the review of the Act was to meet current economic realities in the country.

It partly read, “Having implemented the Public Procurement Act for over 15 years, this administration has seen the need to review and strengthen the provisions of the Act to make it more responsive to the needs of the people.

“The objective of this review is to ensure realistic procurement outcomes in the face of current economic realities and to enhance budget implementation and ease of doing business.”

He said the committee would undertake a holistic review of the Public Procurement Act 2007 by identifying key impediments militating against compliance.

“Other duties expected to be carried out by the committee are; Make recommendations that will strengthen the provisions of the Act to ensure transparency, accountability, value for money, efficiency and timely delivery in the procurement of works, goods and services by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies; Develop a draft amendment Bill for consideration by the Federal Executive Council and any other assignment as may be directed by the President, ” the statement added.

The SGF urged members of the committee not to relent in the discharge of this huge task of reviewing the Public Procurement Act which will make public procurement processes seamless to deliver public goods and services.

The PUNCH reports that the Public Procurement Act 2007 in force was signed into law on June 4, 2007, by the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua.