The proposed amendment to the Public Procurement Act of 2004, aimed at imposing penalties on contractors for project delays, has generated diverse opinions among stakeholders.
The bill, sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, was the focus of a public hearing organized by the House Committee on Public Procurement in Abuja.
Representatives of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), led by the Director-General, Adebowale Adedokun, and former DG, Engr. Emeka Eze strongly opposed the amendment. They argued that the penalties outlined in the bill are excessively punitive and not in alignment with global best practices.
In contrast, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria, represented by Mr. Abdul Mamman, supported the bill. Mr. Mamman asserted that its passage would enhance accountability and curb the rising number of abandoned projects across the nation.
Committee Chairman Hon. Unyime Idem addressed the persistent issue of project delays, identifying several contributing factors, including contractor incompetence, intentional delays for price variations, lack of prioritization, corruption, economic sabotage, and acts of bad faith.
The committee assured stakeholders of a transparent review process, pledging to scrutinize the bill thoroughly before presenting it to the House for further consideration.
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