BPP Stops Contract Frauds, Saves N1.9 Trillion
The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has successfully saved Nigeria N1.9 trillion from fraudulent contracts over the years, according to the Director-General, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun. He disclosed this remarkable achievement during a budget defense session with the Senate Committee on Public Procurement in Abuja on Thursday.
Key Achievements and Impact
Since its establishment on June 14, 2007, BPP has been at the forefront of ensuring transparency, fairness, and efficiency in public procurement processes, significantly reducing losses caused by contract frauds. Dr. Adedokun emphasized the agency’s pivotal role in curbing the diversion of public funds and poor service delivery.
“BPP has been transforming public procurement in Nigeria for 17 years by preventing losses of at least N40 billion annually,” Dr. Adedokun said. These savings have been achieved through efforts that prevent contract inflation, misappropriation of funds, and ensure better service outcomes.
The price intelligence unit within BPP has played a significant role in the savings, preventing N1.9 trillion from being lost to fraudulent contracts over the years. The BPP’s efforts have also supported the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Pension Commission (PenCom) in improving revenue collection.
Challenges of Limited Funding
Despite its successes, Dr. Adedokun expressed concerns regarding the agency’s funding. The BPP had proposed a capital expenditure of N63.5 billion for 2025, but the Budget Office approved just N1.57 billion, a figure that may hinder the agency’s ability to address critical issues.
Dr. Adedokun pointed out that insufficient funding could affect efforts to tackle challenges such as staff accommodation, the replacement of outdated project monitoring vehicles, and the implementation of an e-procurement program that could further improve the procurement process.
Senate Committee’s Oversight
During the session, the Senate Committee on Public Procurement, led by Senator Olajide Ipinsagba (APC, Ondo North), expressed concerns over the agency’s capacity to manage the vast number of contracts across over 800 government agencies with a staff of just 158 workers.
In response to these concerns, the committee directed Dr. Adedokun to include plans for staff recruitment in the 2025 budget proposal to enhance BPP’s capacity to handle its growing responsibilities more effectively.
Conclusion
The BPP’s role in preventing contract frauds and ensuring transparency in public procurement has been instrumental in saving significant public funds. However, with limited financial resources and an undersized workforce, the agency faces challenges in fulfilling its mandate fully. The Senate Committee’s recommendation for increased staff capacity and funding aims to bolster the BPP’s ability to continue its important work of safeguarding public resources.
