1.0 Preamble.
The 4th procurement Summit of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Institution of Procurement Engineers held on 30th October 2021 at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja Lagos. The Summit was attended by Procurement practitioners and Academics. It was chaired by the Chairman of Nigeria Institution of Procurement Engineers, Engr Chuks Nwauzor, FNSE, FNIProcE ably represented by Engr Sir Chris .C. Chukwurah FNSE, FNIM, FNIProcE. He congratulated the Lagos chapter for keeping the flag flying.
1.1 The National Chairman stressed the urgent need for Ministries, Commissions, Departments and Agencies (MDA) to strengthen their Internet facilities and access so as to key into and integrate into the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) e-procurement platform. He posited that all procurement entities should be proactive to minimize and comply with Emergency procurement. He urged Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of MDAs to ensure proper documentation in both soft and hard copies for ease of procurement Audit and Administrative reviews when petitions are raised.
1.2 The National Chairman NIProcE called for a legal framework for e-procurement, repayment and e-commerce for Government properties that will ensure fairness and value for money.
1.3 Noting that Covid-19 virus may not be the only possible future pandemic, he commended the Federal Government for improvement in early passage of annual budget but urged Government to further improve on budget instrument releases and timely cash backing to MDAs.
2.0 Three papers were presented by two professionals and one academic. All papers stressed on the theme of the Summit viz Public Procurement in the Post Covid-19. The need to embrace e-procurement and other non-contact, strategic, effective and safe ways of carrying out transparent, competitive, accountable procurement with highest integrity were emphasized.
2.1The Director of Public Procurement Nigeria Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA) presented the lead paper. He cited the European Union (EU) guidance document, the National Procurement Agency of Colombia, the G20 Covid Good Practice Compendium as useful guide for Governments on how to control corruption in Emergency Procurement and reestablish conditions for a quick return to national economic growth, improved social contract and overall human development
2.2 In his paper,Engr Ken Achugbu, FNSE, FNIProcE identified important factors that will enhance effective and efficient procurement in post covid-19 era. These include:
a)Reviewing supplier base.
b)Doing business proactively and more quickly.
c)Adapting new procedures with better understanding and active engagement of the market
d)Embedding social and environmental factors.
e)Promoting innovations and active cooperation of all stakeholders.
2.3 Engr Olusegun .A. Afolabi of University of Lagos, in his paper defined procurement as a strategic resource management process with established distinct procedures which C0ovid-19 disrupted and imposed restrained communications, as well as interrupted site visits. He listed the procurement cycles and asserts that to ensure procurement efficiency in post covid-19 era, panic purchase must be discouraged and procurement efficiency improved by establishing early project priorities by MDAs and greater use of technological innovation such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Engineering Reliability, Quality Control and Assurance.
3.0 Recommendations
Arising from the foregoing, the Summit recommends
a) Prompt passage with full and adequate release of annual budget of MDAs by the Federal, State and Local Governments.
b) Strengthening of Internet Access, and capacities of MDA and BPP for greater adaption of e-procurement, e-commerce and e-payment.
c) Evolving a robust practical legal framework for e-procurement and factoring in the emergency procurement practices from the EU, Colombia and the G20 into the Emergency guideline of BPP to ensure greater transparency and integrity in the Procurement process.
d) Pursuant to these to review,contractors and suppliers base regularly, do business more proactively, actively engage the market by e-commerce, while promoting innovations and all stakes inclusiveness.
e) embrace digital technology during projects conception, inspection, tendering, analysis, implementation and handover.
f)Discourage panic procurement by timely project prioritization and development during the post Covod-19 era.
Engr. Sir. Chris. C Chukwurah, FNSE, FNIM , FNIProcE.
Prof Kunle Wahab, FNSE, FNIProcE
Engr. Ken Achugbu, FNSE, FNIProcE