Ola Olukoyede, the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has called for a comprehensive review of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Act, emphasizing its potential to significantly strengthen the fight against corruption.
Olukoyede highlighted the limitations of the current BPP Act, noting that despite its contributions to defining procurement processes, it has not been fully operationalized or effectively used in prosecutions.
“I cannot recall any specific case where we secured a conviction using the provisions of the Bureau of Public Procurement Act. To truly sanitize our contract and procurement award processes, we need to review the BPP Act to address these concerns,” he stated.
The EFCC Chairman also raised issues regarding the BPP’s procedure for issuing Certificates of No Objection for procurement.
He urged the BPP to re-evaluate its processes, suggesting that flaws in these procedures might be exploited for corrupt practices.
Olukoyede stressed the importance of taking contract and procurement processes seriously, as these areas constitute a significant portion of public sector corruption.
“The greatest form of corruption in the public sector relates to contract and procurement activities,” he observed.
He also pointed out that the problem lies not with the people but with weak institutional systems that enable corruption.
The EFCC boss emphasized the need for collaboration between regulatory and enforcement agencies, particularly in prevention strategies.
He mentioned the establishment of the Directorate of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control as part of his preventive approach since taking office.
Mamman Ahmadu, in his remarks, underscored the importance of collaboration between the EFCC and BPP.
He noted that the BPP’s mission includes ensuring procurements are reviewed by another government agency, which aligns with the EFCC’s oversight objectives.
Ahmadu expressed readiness to work closely with the EFCC to address procurement-related corruption.
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to enhance cooperation and strengthen institutional frameworks to combat corruption effectively.
