Hope for local manufacturers as Senate passes Public Procurement Bill

With the Senate passing the Public Procurement Act, 2007 Amendment Bill on Thursday, better days are around the corner for local manufacturers.

The bill, when signed into law by the President, will, among other things, give precedence to locally made goods in all government procurements.

The Chairman of the Procurement committee, Senator Joshua Dariye, while presenting the report during plenary, said that the essence of the bill was to provide for and adopt the local content policy.

He explained that certain sections of the 2007 version of the Act had been amended to favour local manufacturers and ensure speedy completion of projects.

“Similarly, the issue of disposal which is an integral aspect of procurement has been aptly captured by the amendment in the new sub-clause 1(e).

“The committee has equally sustained the amendment to section 34(1,2) sought by the bill for the purpose of patronizing made in Nigeria goods: this will go a long way to encourage our Nigerian manufacturers.

“The amendment proposed by the bill in section 35 is to review upwards the mobilization fee from 15 per cent to 25 per cent that may be paid to a supplier or contractor. This is aimed at enhancing timely completion of procurement processes at various phases.”

Furthermore, the Senate  approved the inclusion of Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors as members of the National Council on Public Procurement.