Monitor projects, from contract to delivery, BPP urges CSOs

The Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Adebowale Adedokun, has called on Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to closely oversee public projects from the initial procurement planning stage, through contract award, implementation and service delivery, in order to deter waste and inefficiency. Speaking at a BPP-CSO Engagement in Abuja, Adedokun stressed the importance of CSOs in enhancing transparency, accountability and citizen involvement in Nigeria's public procurement system.

He urged civil society to shift their monitoring focus from merely verifying contract awards to assessing whether the projects deliver the intended benefits to the Nigerian populace. Adedokun emphasized that the bureau is proposing a structured BPP-CSO Public Procurement Partnership Framework to foster stronger collaboration, which would encompass capacity building, access to information and data, procurement and project monitoring, reporting, early warning, and citizens' engagement.

He highlighted that CSOs can monitor projects from planning and contract award to implementation and service delivery, especially those that directly impact communities. The use of procurement information and open contracting data can enable CSOs to conduct evidence-based monitoring, rather than relying on conjecture, Adedokun pointed out.

He also emphasized the need for CSOs to maintain their independence while interacting with government entities on procurement matters. Adedokun urged CSOs to ensure their critiques are evidence-based and the government remains open to scrutiny and recommendations. He noted that public procurement decisions can significantly impact various sectors such as healthcare, education, transportation, security, agriculture, employment and public services.

Adedokun concluded by inviting CSOs to participate in developing the proposed partnership framework, with success measured by improved projects, waste prevention, increased transparency, empowered communities and delivered public value.