‘It’ll enhance anti-corruption fight’: EFCC chairman seeks BPP Act’s review

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has called for a review of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act, saying it will enhance the anti-corruption fight.

Olukoyede made the call during a meeting with the management team of BPP, led by Mamman Ahmadu, at the EFCC corporate headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

The EFCC chairman said the BPP Act needed to be reworked in the overall interest of the nation.

He 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.

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“If we really mean business about sanitising 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.

“There are so many areas where we need to sit down and examine some of the things we are doing in the interest of the country. There is a need for us to work together. The essence of prevention is that we don’t have to wait until a contract is awarded and money stolen.”

Olukoyede also expressed worry over BPP’s procedure of issuance of Certificate of No Objection to applicants on some items for procurement.

The EFCC boss added: “Also, the issue of Certificate of No Objection has become a thing of concern to us.

“We crave your indulgence to again look inwards at your processes and procedures and how the Certificate of No Objection is being given out to applicants.”

While stating that the issue of contract and procurement award processes should be taken more seriously to ensure good results in the fight against corruption, Olukoyede noted that the greatest number of corruption in public sector space in the country verge on contract and procurement.

On his part, Ahmadu said the need for better collaboration between the EFCC and BPP was the motivation for the visit by his team.

The Star