Contracts: NGO Seeks BPP Investigation

An Abuja-based Nongovernmental Organisation, Accountability Watch Initiative (AWI), has accused the Bureau of Public Procurement of demanding a one percent kickback payment as a condition for granting a no-objection certificate.

The NGO claimed that its interactions with some contractors revealed that before issuing the certificate of no-objection, a requirement for awarding contracts, the BPP always insists on having one percent of the total contract sum.

BPP regulates and oversees public procurement processes to ensure transparency, accountability, and value for money.

Its functions encompass formulating procurement policies, certifying contracts, supervising procurement, and maintaining databases of contractors and procurement information.

The NGO’s findings indicated that the BPP leadership is fascinated with asking for and collecting 1% of the contract sum rather than ensuring due diligence.

AWI coordinator, Francis Mark, accused the BPP of deliberately frustrating the federal government’s efforts at revamping the nation’s infrastructure by prioritising the 1% instead of competence and capability of a firm to handle a project.”

While urging the anti-graft agencies to shine a searchlight on the BPP, AWI claimed that some contractors would be ready to provide evidence to the agencies during the investigation once they were guaranteed their identity would be protected.