Budget: Lawmakers Seek Increased Allocation For BPP

Members of the  House of Representatives yesterday  decried the low budgetary allocation to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

The lawmakers expressed the displeasure at the budget defense of the Committee on Public Procurement in Abuja.

Chairman of Committee, Hon Nasir Ali Ahmed, said that considering the enormous responsibilities vested on the BPP, it requires more funding.

He noted that N58 million allocation was inadequate. “We will liaise with the senate to seek ways to improve on the budget of the BPP. We will sit down with the leadership of both chambers to make sure that the issue is addressed. If there are any losers in this under funding, it is the Nigerian people,” Hon Ahmed said.

He further noted that the agency is grossly under funded.

He said that the committee will intensify its oversight functions with the aim of strengthening the Bureau to build and sustain an efficient procurement system that meets international best practices.

“The House of representative and indeed the National Assembly is not only poised to ensure timely passage of annual budgets but also to ensure that budget should have direct impact on the citizenry and the nation at large. It should impact on the productive capacity of Nigerians with a view to create wealth and opportunities for all and sundry,” he said.

He also said that he was surprised that the director general was not worried about being underfunded. Members of the committee were unanimous in the agreement that the BPP can not meet any of its mandates with it’s allocation.