EFCC boss calls for overhaul of BPP to nab corrupt officials
By Chibuzo Ihegboro
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to root out corrupt officials and ensure transparency in government contracts and procurement processes.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, who made this call when he hosted the management team of BPP, led by Mamman Ahmadu, at its headquarters in Abuja, stressed that the current law has not been effective in aiding the prosecution of corrupt officials.
According to the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, the BPP Act needs to be reworked to enhance the anti-corruption fight, as it has not led to any significant convictions since its enactment.
Olukoyede, expressed concern that the BPP Act has not been fully operationalised and its provisions have not aided prosecution much.
He noted that he could not recall any specific case where the EFCC secured a conviction using the provisions of the BPP Act.
The EFCC boss said, “Over the years, you have been able to define certain scopes that are helping to drive our contract and procurement award processes, but we still notice that there is still much more to be done. In fact, the law has not been fully operationalised. We also discovered that the law as it is has not aided prosecution much. It has to be reviewed.
I am not sure that I can remember any specific case where we secured a conviction using the provisions of the Bureau of Public Procurement Act. I am not sure that the EFCC has secured any conviction using the BPP Act. If we really mean business about sanitizing our contract and procurement award processes, we have to do something about the BPP Act and review it in such a way that it can address some of these concerns.”
He also expressed worry over BPP’s procedure of issuing of Certificate of No Objection to applicants on some items for procurement.
Olukoyede, craved the indulgence of the BPP to re-examine their processes and procedures, particularly about the Certificate of No Objection.
