Nigeria’s public procurement agency to deploy digital technology for processing, classification of contractors

Mamman Ahmadu, director general of Nigeria’s Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), has indicated that the agency is working towards eventual digitisation of all its procurement processes and classification of all contractors in line with global best practices.

Ahmadu noted that the whole world is going “E” in the public procurement process, adding that Nigeria has also joined the rest of the world to ensure that the best global practices in public procurement process is strictly adhered to by going digital in order to allow for more participation, efficiency and transparency to ensure that the public procurement reform receives the needed attention and to deliver ultimately for the good of the country.

He spoke at the Zonal Stakeholder Workshop on the Development of the Category Matrix for the National Database of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers (CCSP) in Abuja.

Ahmadu also said that the BPP would utilize modern technology in public procurement to further the reform process.

He emphasised the need for all the professional bodies to be fully involved in the reform process.

The Public Procurement Act (PPA, 2007) sections 5j, 5q and 6j dictate the need for classification, categorisation of federal contractors, consultants and service providers (CCSP) in order to enhance specilalisation, high performance in public procurement and reduce cost of tendering, he noted.

Suleiman Hassan Zarma, minister of state, works, also lent his voice to emphasize the critical nature of the categorisation matrix stating that it will allow for a more robust participation of all stakeholders to give room for specialisation in their different fields of expertise.

He also mentioned the need to ensure that in the categorisation matrix local contractors are also considered due to their fundamental role in the infrastructural development process of the country.