The House of Representatives has decided to probe the inability of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to enforce its powers in the discharge of its duties.

The agency, established in 2007, is vested with powers to harmonize existing government policies and practices on public procurement in order to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in the procurement process.

It was also expected to establish pricing standards and benchmarks and ensure the application of fair, competitive, transparent, value-for-money standards and practices in the procurement process.

According to Afe Olowookere (APC, Ondo), while moving a motion on the issue, the agency has failed in its mandate thereby inhibiting Federal Government’s efforts against corruption.

“We have seen situation where government contracts and projects that are of similar nature and content sited in the same vicinity are given out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) at prices that are at variance with what can be considered as standardized prices or thresholds under the principle of international best practices,” he decried.

“This is inhibiting Government’s efforts in fighting corruption.

“We are also cognizant of the fact that the widespread breach of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 by the MDAs without any proven corrective measures taken or sanctions imposed by BPP renders its existence a waste on the finances of Government.”

The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote and the Committee on procurement was given six weeks to carry out the assignment and report back for further legislative action.